From São Paulo to the spotlight of a home court national championship

By John-Paul Bonadonna 

For Gustavo Siqueira, the 2026 U SPORTS BioSteel Men's Volleyball Championship will offer the chance for a perfect ending to an extraordinary journey — one that began in São Paulo, crossed oceans and could finish on the hardwood in Windsor. 

Hosted March 13 to 15 at the Toldo Lancer Centre, the championship will close the chapter on Siqueira’s career as a student-athlete. 

For the fifth-year outside hitter, the opportunity to finish in front of a packed gym in the community that embraced him from day one, feels almost unreal. 

“It changed my life,” Siqueira says simply. 

“I wouldn’t even be in Canada if it wasn’t for volleyball and the University of Windsor.” 

A leap of faith — in the middle of a pandemic 

“I could tell right away the culture was special,” Siqueira says. “The guys loved each other. They loved the team. That mattered to me.” 

Siqueira grew up immersed in the sport which in Brazil ranks second in popularity only to soccer. 

While excited for the opportunity in Windsor, choosing to leave home at a young age was a difficult one.  

It was made even more so when COVID-19 hit. 

Much like a court-traversing bump, set and spike is required in volleyball, Gustavo’s journey from Brazil to Canada in the midst of a global pandemic also needed a few touches to reach his destination. 

He flew from Brazil to Portugal — where Brazilians don’t require a visa — before crossing the Atlantic again to Toronto. Along the way came endless paperwork, quarantine rules and what felt like countless COVID tests. 

“It was the longest Sunday of my life,” he laughs. 

“But I made it.”

Coach James Gravelle still marvels at what his athlete endured just to arrive. 

“He had to overcome more obstacles than just about anyone I’ve coached,” Gravelle says. 

“Financially, emotionally, logistically — and he did it all during the pandemic. That says a lot about who Gustavo is.” 

Finding home in Windsor 

Arriving in June 2021, Siqueira stepped into a city and a team that quickly felt like home. While many international students struggle to find community, Siqueira credits the varsity program with making the transition seamless. 

“I came here already part of a family,” he says. 

“The older guys helped me with everything — classes, directions, life. Now it’s my turn to do that for the younger guys.” 

That culture of accountability and care has become a defining trait of the Lancers. 

Players arrive early, stay late and look out for one another on and off the court. It’s one of the reasons UWindsor has emerged as a national powerhouse. 

“We always say volleyball is the ultimate team game,” Gravelle explains. 

“You need everyone. That’s what this group understands so well.” 

Five years, one shared goal 

Siqueira has been part of the same core group for five seasons — a rarity in modern university sport. That continuity has translated into chemistry, confidence and championship expectations. 

“We know how each other plays. We know what we need from one another,” he says. 

“And we’re all chasing the same thing.” 

That shared goal was a major reason Siqueira and several teammates returned for a fifth year when Windsor was awarded the national championship. 

“Once we knew we were hosting, I was all in,” he says. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — not just for us, but for the school and the city.”  

Gravelle sees the decision as a reflection of the group’s character. 

“This is a special graduating class,” he says. 

“They’ve elevated our program and having nationals here is a fitting reward for the work they’ve put in over five years.” 

The roar of the Toldo Lancer Centre 

Siqueira already knows what awaits in March. 

Last season’s OUA championship brought more than 3,000 fans into the Toldo Lancer Centre, transforming the building into a wall of sound. 

“It’s fuel,” he says. 

“But you also have to control it. You feel the energy the moment you walk in.” 

For Siqueira, that energy will carry added meaning. These matches won’t just be about medals — they’ll be a farewell. 

“It’s a good way to say goodbye,” he says. 

“To the fans, the staff and everyone who’s been part of this.” 

Forever a Lancer 

As graduation approaches, Siqueira has already secured employment locally, trading his study permit for a work permit and his student card for alumni designation. 

“I’ll always be a Lancer,” he says. 

“Not just a volleyball player — a Lancer.” 

That sentiment is exactly what Gravelle hopes fans see when they watch this team compete in the 2026 U SPORTS BioSteel Men's Volleyball Championship at the Toldo Lancer Centre. 

“These guys are ready for the next chapter,” Gravelle says. 

“But before that, they get one more chance to do something special together — right here.”

For ticket information and a full championship schedule, visit the 2026 U SPORTS BioSteel Men’s Volleyball Championship website or golancers.ca.