The York University Lions men's volleyball team defeated the Nipissing Lakers 3-1 in a tight home game on Saturday (Jan. 24) at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Lions won the first set 25-20, the second 25-16 and the fourth 25-21, while the Lakers won the third 25-23.
 
Rookie Josh Henderson (Scarborough, Ont.) played an outstanding game, completing a total of 17 kills, one service ace and three blocks for a game-high 21 points. He is third in the OUA in total kills (194), sixth in kills per set (3.34) and third in total points (230).
 
Nipissing's Cameron Branch also played a tremendous game with 18 kills, one service ace and one block for 20 points. He is fourth in the OUA in total kills (189), first in kills per set (4.30) and seventh in total points (211).
 
The first and second sets were both very close battles, but the spirit and strength of the Lions came out on top. The Lions had nine kills and four errors in the first, compared to the Lakers' 10 kills and nine errors. In the second, the Lions had 15 kills and two errors, compared to the Laker's eight kills and five errors.
 
The Lions were leading the third set by five points at17-12 when a kill and three service aces from Lyndon Sonego, two kills from Jack Peckham and a kill from Branch put the Lakers in the lead at 19-17. The Lions trailed closely behind the Lakers, but with three powerful kills from Branch, he ended the set at 25-23 and prolonged the game into the fourth.
 
The Lions consistently held the lead in the fourth, but the Lakers threatened it when the score was 23-17. With four errors from the Lions in a grueling match, the Lakers got closer to the Lions at 23-20. Ray Szeto (Sutton, Ont.) completed a final kill, and the Lakers committed a service error for the Lions to win 25-21 and win the match.
 
In addition to Henderson's stellar numbers, Szeto finished with 12 points on nine kills, one service ace and two blocks, while Alexander Duncan-Thibault (Scarborough, Ont.) had 13 points on nine kills and four blocks.
 
Nikola Sandic (Etobicoke, Ont.) led with 43 assists in the match, and Jules Muhawe (Orleans, Ont.) had a team-high 12 digs.
 
For Nipissing, Sonego finished with 15 points on 11 kills and four service aces, and Warren Taylor recorded 14.5 points on nine kills, three service aces and 2.5 blocks.
 
The Lions move from sixth place in the OUA standings to fifth with a record of 9-7, while the Lakers remain in ninth place with a 4-11 record.
 
The Lions will look to continue the push for a playoff spot, and possibly a home playoff game, when they travel downtown on Friday night (Jan. 30) to face the Toronto Varsity Blues beginning at 8pm.