Anthony Ivanovski (7) is the middle blocker for the Windsor Lancers men’s volleyball team. (PHOTO BY WINDSOR LANCERS/UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
Anthony Ivanovski’s next steps were in place.
The middle blocker for the men’s volleyball Windsor Lancers would see his varsity volleyball career end after his fourth year and the nursing student would smoothly transition into the workforce.
Then everything changed.
Midway through the year, the Lancers were called upstairs to the Alumni Lounge at the Toldo Lancer Centre. There, athletic department leadership delivered news that instantly reshaped Ivanovski’s plans: Windsor would host the 2026 U SPORTS BioSteel Men's Volleyball Championship.
For Ivanovski, it meant a choice — step away as planned or put life on pause for one more season to chase something bigger at home.
“It was actually a pretty easy decision,” said Ivanovski.
“As soon as I heard we were hosting nationals, I knew I had to come back to finish with my teammates and be part of the first nationals ever hosted here. You don’t walk away from that.”
Ivanovski graduated with his nursing degree as scheduled. He wrote and passed the NCLEX exam over the summer and earned his professional license. But instead of starting work immediately, he returned to campus for a fifth year and enrolled in Liberal Arts.
That kind of sacrifice is exactly what defines this Lancers group, according to head coach James Gravelle.
“We have players here who are graduates already and foregoing career opportunities for a year for this,” said Gravelle.
“That tells you everything you need to know about this team.”
Gravelle, a Windsor alumnus himself, sees Ivanovski as part of a rare senior core that has elevated the men’s volleyball program into one of the country’s most respected.
Windsor has been a consistent top-10 program nationally and enters the championship as a legitimate title contender — host or not.
“These guys earned this,” remarked Gravelle.
“Hosting nationals at home is a reward, but it’s also a reflection of years of work, trust and culture building.”
For Ivanovski, that culture began long before university.
After playing basketball as a kid, he was convinced to try volleyball in Grade 7 by childhood friend and current teammate Riley Parker. From club volleyball at Sky Volley to high school and eventually the Lancers, Windsor has always been home.
“I never thought about going anywhere else,” said Ivanovski.
“Even if volleyball wasn’t part of the picture, I was staying in Windsor. So to now represent this city and this university, it means a lot.”
His commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond the gym.
Associate vice-president of athletics Eric Vandenbroucke points to Ivanovski and other fifth-year players as living examples of what separates this program from other teams.
“These are quality people — great students, great Lancers and people you can really rally around,” said Vandenbroucke.
“The fact that several of them chose to stay for an extra year speaks volumes about their bond and their belief in what this program stands for.”
Volleyball, described by Gravelle as “the ultimate team game,” demands that level of connection. Success depends not on individual moments, but on collective execution, communication and belief.
For Windsor, that belief will be amplified by a home crowd.
Ivanovski has experienced national championships on the road and understands the difference.
“We feed off our fans,” he said.
“To have this level of volleyball in Windsor in what I’m sure will be a packed Toldo Lancer Centre — it’s honestly hard to describe. You just have to be there.”
The 2026 U SPORTS BioSteel Men's Volleyball Championship will see the best university volleyball teams in Canada will converge on Windsor March 13 through 15.
For Ivanovski, friends and family will be in the stands, just as they have throughout his journey.
“One more year was a small price to pay,” said Ivanovski said.
“This doesn’t happen often and when it does you give everything you have.”
In choosing one more season over certainty, Anthony Ivanovski didn’t just extend his volleyball career. He became a symbol of commitment to his teammates, to the program and to a university ready to make history on home court.
For ticket information and a full championship schedule, visit the 2026 U SPORTS BioSteel Men’s Volleyball Championship website or golancers.ca.