The York University Lions men's volleyball team will face two of the three teams immediately in front of it in the OUA standings this weekend when the squad welcomes the Waterloo Warriors and Guelph Gryphons to the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Match-ups: York (7-5) vs. Waterloo (8-5) and Guelph (8-4)
 
Game Details
Waterloo – Saturday, Jan. 17 @ 1pm, OUA.tv
Guelph – Sunday, Jan. 18 @ 4pm, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 2-3 at home
Waterloo – 4-2 on the road
Guelph – 4-3 on the road
 
Current Streaks
York – Lost 1
Waterloo – Lost 1
Guelph – Won 1
 
Last Meetings
The Lions defeated the Warriors in four sets in their first meeting in October, in the season opener on the road in Waterloo. The Warriors won their most recent match in straight sets in the first round of the Excalibur Classic two weeks ago, and also swept both regular-season matches last year.
 
The Gryphons won the first match between the two squads on opening weekend in October by a 3-1 score. The Lions took the first set but then dropped the next three. The Lions swept both contests in the regular season last year.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions won five of six matches before the streak came to an end at the hands of Queen's in their most recent match last weekend. Among their wins was a four-sets win over Western, which spent three weeks in the national rankings.
• The Lions have won 26 sets on the year, and allowed 21. Two of their seven victories were in straight sets.
• The Lions won the silver medal at their annual Excalibur Classic tournament in early January. They were defeated by the Mustangs in the final.

 
Waterloo

• After just three wins in their first seven matches, the Warriors won five in a row. Their streak was snapped in their most recent contest, a 3-1 loss to Ryerson.
• The Warriors won the bronze medal at the Excalibur Classic tournament two weeks ago.
• The Warriors have won 28 sets this year and allowed 20. Four of their eight victories came in straight sets.
• The Warriors were 16-4 last year and finished third in the OUA standings. They will not match that record this year as they have already lost five on the season.

 
Guelph

• The Gryphons won six in a row earlier this season, and seven of eight, but then lost two in a row to Waterloo and nationally-ranked McMaster. They bounced back in their first match of 2015, defeating Toronto in four sets.
• Guelph is currently in a tie with Queen's for third place in the OUA standings.
• The Gryphons have dropped 22 sets this year, the highest total among teams in the top six. They have also won just 25, the lowest mark in the group.
• The Gryphons went just 5-15 last year and missed the playoffs, but they have already surpassed that wins total with eight wins on the season and spent four weeks in the national rankings in November.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
OH Josh Henderson – The rookie outside hitter is tied for eighth in the OUA with 3.9 points per set. He is also seventh in kills per set (3.26) and tied for 22^nd in total blocks (23).
 
S Nikola Sandic – Earned tournament all-star honours at the Excalibur Classic. He is currently ranked second in the OUA with 9.91 assists per set.
 
Waterloo
 
RS Zach Doherty – Leads the Warriors and is ranked 10^th in the OUA with 3.8 points per set. He is also eighth in kills per set (3.20) and tied for 13^th in total blocks (31).
 
LIB Erich Woolley – The two-time OUA libero of the year, and reigning CIS libero of the year, is currently second in the conference with 3.27 digs per set.
 
Guelph
 
LS Patrick Strzalkowski – Guelph's leading scorer with 3.5 points per set, tying him for 13^th in the OUA. He is also second in service aces (20), 13^th in kills per set (2.72) and 19^th in total blocks (25).
 
S Kyle Richards – Ranks eighth in the OUA in assists per set (8.22) and 20^th in digs per set (1.67).