Blues battle U of A in exhibition match before home opener

2021-22 Men's Volleyball

Posted: Nov 12, 2021

Chris Raeside, CapU Athletic Events and Sport Development Officer

In preparation for the 2021-22 season, the Blues men's volleyball team was privileged to host the University of Alberta's men's volleyball team for an exhibition match on October 29, 2021.

We took the time to catch up with head coach, Michael Gilray, as he reflects on the experience and how his team looks going into their season home opener on Friday, November 12th.

Capilano University Blues · Men's Volleyball - Oct 29, 2021 - Michael Gilray Interview

Raeside: OK, so you guys just played an exhibition match against the University of Alberta. How did that come to be? How did that come to pass?

Gilray: Yeah. So I got a phone call on my drive in from Brock, the head coach of the University of Alberta, on Wednesday before our practice and luckily and thankful to Peter and Leslie and Milt. We put an email out to see if we would be able to get the gym time on Friday morning.

And with the help of Recreation and Athletics working together, we were able to offer some gym time for us to have an exhibition game against a top USport team, and it was a great experience.

Raeside: So coming in is the new Head Coach of the Blues women's volleyball program. How has the start of the season been going for you?

Gilray: Yeah, it's been an unbelievable start to my first season. Coaching men Dave Dooley has stayed on, as well as an assistant coach and just getting the opportunity to learn from him and the amazing group of gentlemen that he has put together.

The culture of this team is outstanding, and it has been an incredible learning experience for, I think, player and coaches. We have new assistant coaches in TheAnh. Ben and Simon are back as coaches from the national team. TheAnh has done an amazing job supporting the team from the fitness side and has a kinesiology background.

Obviously, the knowledge of Ben and Simon from playing in this league for four or five years each has just been unbelievable. So it has been an incredible start. The team is really starting to form and it's been an unbelievable last two weeks of practice and culminating in this exhibition game today and to help prep us for CBC and in our league opener next Friday.

Raeside: And for your team today, how did they look?

Gilray: They're very, very good. We're very happy with how we did, a couple of the wins off of U of A. We were able to compete hard. We had an injury, but the depth of our team was shown being able to do that with the quick turnaround for the game, students obviously being in class.

We didn't have everybody here, but as I said, the depth of our roster was able to compete against what I would say their second seven of U of A. So their starters were playing Trinity last night and have another game, I believe, against UBC tonight.

To be able to offer U of A and Brock, you know, those game reps versus their second seven or their bench players. For all of our guys who were able to make it to get out, it was just a great experience and really exciting volleyball.

Raeside: Yeah, that's the first I've seen of one of your international recruits, Gabriel Canuto, but you've got a few standout international recruits. So do you have any comments on sort of those international recruits that you've added to the team?

Gilray: Yeah, Gabriel is the only new international. Obviously and Rafael, you know was here in the past. Gabe is our new international setter. He's worked so hard to get here. He's been doing online classes in Brazil until he was able to arrive two weeks ago, and now he's been, you know, getting the rust off for the last two weeks. It's so exciting to get him some game time versus competition and have him swing and set. One of my favorite things, watching the excitement of his teammates for him knowing how hard he worked to get here and everything that he's done to get here.

He was supposed to arrive last year with the COVID and, you know, it's been a long time coming and he's really excited to be here. Watching our starting setter, Jensen Yuen, watching him be his loudest supporter on the bench when Gabe was having a great match, it is just amazing to see.

Raeside: Great. Thanks for your time, Michael.

Gilray: Thank you.

In between the women's and men's matches on November 12th, the Blues will also honour their women's and men's CCAA National Scholars before a short presentation raising and celebrating their 2020 CCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship and banner.