The York University Lions men's volleyball team displayed a thrilling performance in a 3-1 victory over the Queen's Gaels in their OUA quarter-final match on Sunday (Feb. 15) at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Gaels took the first set 25-19, but the Lions stormed back to take the next three 25-22, 29-27, 25-20 to secure the win and advance to the OUA semifinals for the second time in the last three seasons.
 
The Gaels started strongly in the first set, capitalizing on the Lions' defensive errors for the early lead. However, the Lions were able to equalize at 6-6 on several of the Gaels' defensive deflections.
 
Mike Tomlinson, the Gaels' top-scoring outside hitter, delivered two menacing serves resulting in aces for a 15-9 lead.
 
In addition to the Gaels being more organized offensively, the scoreline was widened through several service errors by the home team that gave the Gaels the first set.
 
The visitors continued to look menacing with Scott Brunet powering an emphatic spike for the opening point of the second set. Lions' veteran outside hitter Ray Szeto (Sutton, Ont.) immediately replied with a powerful spike of his own.
 
The set remained tight with good plays coming from both teams. The Lions' blockers successively blocked the opponent's attacking attempts to level the game at 9-9. The hosts continued their scoring spree with Josh Henderson (Scarborough, Ont.) scoring an ace and Marko Dakic (Mississauga, Ont.) a kill.
 
At 12-9, the Gaels called a timeout. After returning, the Lions experienced a temporary barren spell as the Gaels caught up to lead 13-12. Serve specialists Robert Thompson (Maple, Ont.) and Logan Mend (Naramata, B.C.) helped keep the Lions close with accurate serves. Mend made a service ace for the set-winning point.
 
Henderson emerged as the hero in the third set, giving the Lions an early lead through a number of successful blocks and kills. Despite his impressive form, the game remained in a deadlock due to the Lions committing several errors.
 
At 14-13, Henderson received a set from Nikola Sandic (Etobicoke, Ont.) as the opposition scrambled to anticipate the outside hitter's attempt, and he unleashed a thundering spike that completely stunned the defending Gaels.
 
The rookie outside hitter also extended the game with a kill for the first deuce. The set dragged on to a thrilling deadlock as both teams remained equally matched. The Lions eventually came out as winners at 29-27 through an attacking error by the Gaels. Henderson scored 13 of the team's 29  points on his own, with 10 kills and three blocks in the set.
 
Early in the fourth, the Gaels made several mistakes for York to lead 4-0. Henderson continued to dominate with every spike resulting in a kill.
 
Another impressive performer was Alexander Duncan-Thibault (Scarborough, Ont.), who recorded three of his eight kills in the fourth set alone.
 
The Lions came close to winning comfortable at 23-16, but the Gaels were relentless in trying to stay in the game and pushed it to 24-20, but Szeto sealed the Lions' victory with a kill on their second match point.
 
Henderson recorded 27.5 points with 22 kills, 4.5 blocks and one service ace, and also added  eight digs in the win. For the Gaels, Tomlinson recorded 22 points with 18 kills, two blocks and two service aces, and also added six digs.
 
Up next for the Lions is a trip to the OUA Final Four Championships hosted by the McMaster Marauders in Hamilton, Ont., next weekend. They will be facing the Waterloo Warriors in the semifinals on Friday (Feb. 20) beginning at 5:30pm.