Three-time all-Canadian Ray Szeto powered the No. 7 seeded York University Lions to a 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 23-25, 16-14) consolation semifinal victory over Ontario-rival the University of Waterloo Warriors with 26 kills Friday afternoon in the first consolation semifinal match at the CIS Men's Volleyball Championship in Saskatoon.
 
The outside hitter from Sutton, Ont., was dominant in the match, tallying six kills in the first set, another six in the second, four in the third, six in the fourth and four in the deciding set. He added three digs and two assisted blocks in the match.
 
With the win, York advances to Saturday's consolation final. The win provided revenge for the Lions after a loss to the Warriors in last weekend's OUA semifinals. York had won the first set of the match before Waterloo jumped to a comeback, winning the next three sets.
 
"The match was a hard-fought one; we lost our starting setter and captain Nikola Sandic, but rookie Logan Mend came in and provided a spark off the bench especially with serves late in the game," said York head coach Mike Chumbley. "Waterloo had our number all year long with their system play and coaching style. We just had a really tough time managing their middles throughout the whole year. This is actually only the second time in six matchups we've had success."
 
Tied at nine in the first set, York began to break away after a back row attack from CIS rookie of the year Josh Henderson (Scarborough, Ont.). An error by Waterloo and a service ace from Sandic (Etobicoke, Ont.) forced the Warriors to take a timeout down 12-9. Waterloo was returned the ball on a York attack that sailed long, but couldn't keep it. Szeto returned the ball to his team and helped the Lions on a 6-2 run for an 18-12 lead. Waterloo couldn't recover and York won the set 25-21.
 
Waterloo broke away after a York service error returned the ball to the Warriors and took a 19-17 lead. The Lions were able to get within one at 22-21 with a Marko Dakic (Mississauga, Ont.) attack, but Aidan Simone led the Warriors to the 25-22 win with a block and a kill.
 
Tied at 11 in the third set, York started to break away with two kills that the Warriors couldn't block, forcing Waterloo to a timeout. Although the Warriors scored the point coming out of the timeout, York continued to keep control of the set to grow a large 21-14 lead. The Warriors started a bid for a comeback halting the Lions at 23-16, but after a miss by Waterloo and a big block by Henderson, York won 25-16.
 
Trading points back and forth in the fourth set, Waterloo capitalized on York errors to take a 22-18 lead. The Warriors led 23-18 before the Lions made a bid for a comeback to win the set pulling within two at 23-21. Waterloo took a timeout to regroup but the Lions continued the comeback push at 23-22. Simone put his team at set point. A York block by Mend and Arthur Swarcz (Toronto) held the Warriors at set point, but on the next play a Zachary Doherty kill that the Lions couldn't block forced a fifth and final set with the 25-23 win.
 
Waterloo took a 5-3 to start the deciding set, forcing York to a timeout. The Warriors continued to seemingly roll to the win growing a 12-7 lead. After a Waterloo service ace, a Szeto kill started the Lions on a six-point run to take a 13-12 lead. Waterloo tied the set again at 14, but York's Dakic and an error by the Warriors gave Waterloo the 16-14 win.
 
Simone was impressive in the loss for Waterloo recording 20 kills, two service aces, eight digs and four assisted blocks to be named Waterloo's player of the match. Swarcz took home the honour for the Lions after recording 18 points on 15 kills and three blocks.

The Lions will now face the host University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the consolation final on Saturday afternoon at 2pm Central Time in the battle for fifth place.