The York University Lions women's volleyball team won its fifth match in its last six outings with a 3-0 victory over the Nipissing Lakers in a home game at the Tait Mackenzie Centre on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 24).
 
The Lions won the first set 25-22, the second 25-13 and the third 25-17.
 
In the first set, the Lakers held the lead with an opening kill from Tracy Hammerton. They furthered their lead with five powerful kills from Hammerton, one from Erika Lapierre and another from Christina Caruso for a score of 17-16. The Lions were always right behind the Lakers by one point, and with a big kill from Brittney Hopley (Thronhill, Ont.), she tied the score at 17-17.
 
The Lakers began to commit a series of errors, then Veneta Mincheva (Gatineau, Que.) hammered two kills on the Lakers, changing the score to 21-18 with the Lions in the lead. Hammerton threatened the lead of the Lions with two final kills, but thanks to a kill from Mincheva, and two final kills from Cadence Currie (Scarborough, Ont.) the Lions took the set with a close score of 25-22.
 
The Lakers opened up the second set with a service ace from Christina Caruso, but the Lions quickly fought back with a kill from Michelle Pierce (Windsor, Ont.). The score remained in a back-and-forth tie throughout the beginning of the second, until Hopley, Currie and Mincheva showered the Lakers with kills, changing the score to 8-4.
 
The Lions continued to lead the second with double the score of the Lakers. They completed 14 kills and one error, while the Lakers completed 11 kills and five errors. At the end of the set Mincheva hit down another kill, and a service error from the Lakers ended the second in favour of the Lions.
 
In the third set, Pierce showcased her excellent blocking and Currie her hard-hitting kills as the Lions held a firm lead. With five kills from Currie, three from Mincheva and two each from Hopley and Pierce, the Lions had a total of 12 kills in the third and only four errors. Although the Lakers started to catch up at the end, the Lions held their ground and ended the game with a final kill from Mincheva.
 
Hopley finished with 10 kills, 2.5 blocks and one service ace for a team-high 13.5 points. Pierce also had 13.5 points on seven kills, 3.5 blocks and three service aces. Kirsten Dillon (Surrey, B.C.) led with 23 assists and Carley Flemmer (Delta, B.C.) posted 16 digs.
 
Hammerton led all players in the match with 15.5 points on 15 kills and one assisted block. Jade DeCoste had 22 assists and Jessica Klassen posted 17 digs.
 
The win keeps the Lions in the hunt for a playoff spot in the OUA East, and they remain fifth with a 9-6 record. The Lakers are just behind them in sixth at 5-9.
 
The Lions will have a tough match-up in their next contest against the undefeated and nationally-ranked Toronto Varsity Blues, on Friday (Jan. 30) at Toronto at 6pm.