The York University Lions women's volleyball team extended its winning streak to four games as they defeated the Lakehead Thunderwolves in straight sets on Sunday (Jan 18) in a home game at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Lions won the first set 25-19, the second 25-15 and the third 25-16.
 
The Thunderwolves opened up the scoring with a kill from Jennifer Casey and an attack error from the Lions. However, the Lions quickly fought back with three kills from Michelle Pierce (Windsor, Ont.) and two from Aleks Arsovic (Burlington, Ont.). Three attack errors from the Thunderwolves, helped give the Lions a 9-2 lead.
 
After the Lions burst of points, the Thunderwolves began to fight back in a point for point battle. Kills from Brittney Hopley (Thornhill, Ont.), Kirsten Dillon (Surrey, B.C.), Pierce and a final kill from Arsovic helped the attack remain strong, ending with a total of 16 kills and four errors. Hopley and Pierce stood out in the first set with their excellent blocks and kills.
 
Arsovic hammered in an early kill in the second set to open up the scoring. The Lions did not give the Thunderwolves a break as they nailed six more points on them for a score of 6-0.
 
Kills from Sara Potter and a series of attack errors from the Lions allowed the Thunderwolves to catch up at 17-13. The Thunderwolves libero Breanne Hilhorst made an excellent effort to dive and save many balls from going out of bounds, allowing the Thunderwolves to catch up to the Lions. But with great effort from blocking duo, Abby Ganzhorn (Markham, Ont.) and Pierce, the Lions were able to hold a steady lead and end strong with kills from Hopley, Pierce and Dillon. The Lions ended the second set with 10 kills and 5 errors, while the Thunderwolves ended with eight kills and 13 errors.
 
The third and final set was a tight battle between both sides as the Thunderwolves were constantly on the tail of the Lions, trailing only two points behind. The third set had several great rallies were each side fought hard until the end, diving, volleying and spiking the ball. Veneta Mincheva (Gatineau, Que.) got the first kill of the set, encouraging the Lions to finish strong.
 
Although Potter and Jasmine Fox, from the Thunderwolves, smacked down several kills in the final minutes of play, the Lions remained calm and held their lead. The Lions ended the set with 11 kills and two errors, while the Thunderwolves had 11 kills and seven errors. The Lions won the final set 25-16 and the game 3-0.
 
The leaders from the Lions side include Arsovic with 10 kills, one ace and one block; Hopley with 10 kills and two blocks; and Pierce with nine kills and five blocks. Dillion ended with the highest total of assists (27) and Jennifer Black (London, Ont.) with the most digs (11).
 
Leaders from the Thunderwolves side include Kailan Robinson with nine kills; Jasmine Fox with seven kills and one block; and Sara Potter with six kills. Vanessa Masters had the most assists for the Thunderwolves (25), and Jasmine Fox had the most digs (10).
 
The Lions are in fifth place of the OUA East standings with a record of 8-5, while the Thunderwolves sit at the bottom of the OUA West standings with a record of 2-12.
 
The next game for the Lions is against the first place McMaster Marauders on Friday (Jan. 23) in Hamilton, Ont.