Gavlas duo adding experience to Saskatchewan Huskies volleyball

If the Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball team were a Netflix series, this season could be dubbed, ‘Return of the Gavlas.’

For one, second-year setter CJ Gavlas returned to the lineup after spending a year with the men’s national team training centre in Gatineau, Que.

“It was a grind, it was a lot of training, a lot of reps, just working day in and day out with a lot of good volleyball players,” Gavlas said.

On top of that, head coach Brian Gavlas returned after a year-long sabbatical that saw him learn from mentors in Turkey and California.

“It’s exciting, he’s come back and he has a new energy almost, you could tell he missed the game,” Huskies captain Colin Fraser said.

Two years ago, when both Gavlases were on the roster, the Huskies placed second in the Canada West, then fourth at the national championships. But after missing the playoffs last season, they’re pushing to get back in the saddle.

“I think we have a group of guys that are pretty good and if we can continue to develop and evolve we should have a pretty good shot at getting to a playoff position,” said Gavlas, who entered his 25th year as head coach of the volleyball program.

The importance of Gavlas, the setter, was amplified by the fact that Canada West All Rookie team setter Derek Epp transferred to Trinity Western University in the summer. The Huskies played the Spartans in their home opener series in October and fell 0-3 both nights.

“It was a shock to us, we didn’t really know, but it’s what’s best for him, it’s his decision,” Fraser said about Epp’s departure.

“It was a little bit frustrating, because obviously we want to this program to be the best program that we can have, and to have two great setters at and with the Huskies it would have been amazing for our attackers for our game,” said Gavlas, who was named U Sports Rookie of the Year in 2016.

“But now, I think we’re pretty much past that and we’re just moving on,” added the setter.

Epp is forced to sit out a year according to the Canada West eligibility rules, so the Huskies won’t face their former setter until fall of 2018.

But with the additional experience and knowledge that the Gavlas duo bring to the lineup this year, the Huskies will no doubt bring some extra ammunition to the Canada West conference this year.