The York University Lions men's volleyball team came back from a set deficit to three consecutive set wins against the Toronto Varsity Blues on Sunday (Nov. 16) at Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
Despite losing the first set to the Blues by a score of 20-25, the Lions came back with three set wins afterwards at 25-17, 25-22 and 26-24.
 
The visitors gave the home team a scare after scoring the first four points of the game. Attempted spikes by the Lions were repeatedly blocked by the opposition. A timeout by the Lions revived the team after a tactical change.
 
The Lions continuously sent the ball towards the opponent's back line, where the Blues had trouble keeping it in play. Alexander Duncan-Thibault (Scarborough, Ont.) hammered down spikes that were too difficult to save. Eventually, the team was able to decrease the margin to 13-15.
 
With a series of brilliant plays, the Blues reopened the gap. The Blues Trevor Grant scored the set-winning spike.
 
The Lions displayed a solid performance in the following set.
 
Nikola Sandic (Etobicoke, Ont.) delivered serves that caused trouble in the Blues court. By the first timeout, the Lions lead 10-6.
 
Rookie outside-hitter Josh Henderson (Scarborough, Ont.) made major contributions with vital blocks and kills that led to the set win.
 
A brilliant stint of Duncan-Thibault's serves aided the Lions to an 8-6 lead. The player finished with three aces by the end of the game.
 
Both teams provided an exciting competition as the Blues caught up from trailing 11-15 to equalising at 15-15. The rest of the set remained tight, but the Lions eventually won the set.
 
The Lions found themselves scrambling at the start of the fourth set. Illegal digs committed by the Lions gave the Blues an advantage in the game.
 
Ray Szeto (Sutton, Ont.) troubled the Blues with his dangerous spikes. Henderson ended a long rally with a diagonal spike to an open area. The Lions were able to equalise at 11-11. The set remained tense until the very end, when the home team denied a deuce through a Duncan-Thibault block.
 
Among the star players of the game, Henderson achieved 22 kills, 10 digs and two assists. Sandic finished with 55 assists and two aces.
 
The Blues Thomas Meier recorded 17 kills and two digs. Michael Denton made 44 assists, eight digs and one solo block.
 
Up next, the Lions will be facing the Windsor Lancers in Windsor, Ont., on Friday (Nov. 21) beginning at 7pm.

Big win for the men's volleyball team today vs. Toronto capped off by a huge block by @alexduncanvball! ?? yorku lionpride yorklions beattheblues #volleyball

A photo posted by York Lions (@yorkulions) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:11pm PST