Rookie outside hitter Ethan Pavone smashes a kill against the UBCO Heat on Saturday (Will Thompson photo).
Rookie outside hitter Ethan Pavone smashes a kill against the UBCO Heat on Saturday (Will Thompson photo).
November 9, 2025

Three rookies play full match as they continue learning curve in Griffins' 3-0 loss to Heat

Box Score

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

KELOWNA, B.C. – It's tough for the Griffins men's volleyball team to see the long-term right now as its young roster continued its learning curve with a 3-0 loss to the UBC Okanagan Heat on Saturday.

With six rookies seeing action in the match against the No. 7 team in U SPORTS, the result was predictable: 25-18, 25-13, 25-14.

"I think UBCO showed their class tonight and reached a level we weren't necessarily able to get to," said Griffins head coach Brad Poplawski. "They're a good team and they definitely exposed some stuff. 

"It's like always – at times there was some good stuff. We were just too error prone and made it hard on ourselves with that."

With the result, MacEwan falls to 0-6, while UBCO improves to 5-1.

"As a coach, I'll own some of it," said Poplawski. "With all our injuries, we've been limited in training what we can do and honestly I've been scared to do some things we need to work because we're so thin that I can't afford any more injuries. For example, our blocking wasn't anywhere where it needed to be, but that's on me because we haven't been able to train it properly.

"I do cut the guys some slack there. They're doing what they can. We're an injury away from starting a middle on the left side."

Rookie Ethan Pavone, in just his second career start, co-led the Griffins with seven kills and three digs, while veteran Brendon Lord also had seven kills and two blocks. Rookies Fabian Breitenbach (six kills) and Solomon Flindall (six digs) also started, while first-years Chanho Park, Lincoln Pinchuk and Luigi Ehui saw action.

"We had three first years starting and playing a full match," said Poplawski. "We're just hoping they can learn and grow from these experiences.

"For these first years, it's only a lesson if you learn from it," he continued. "So, hopefully they're able to take positives from the weekend, but also grow as people and as athletes. 

"Most first years in Canada West don't get in in their first year. So, we're hoping for their future and their development that it really serves them well down the road."

The Griffins will be back at home next when they host Mount Royal on Nov. 14-15.