The York University Lions women's volleyball team defeated the Windsor Lancers in straight sets in their last game of the season on Sunday (Feb. 8) at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The first set was a grueling battle between both sides as the Lancers came back at the end of the set to threaten the Lions lead. The Lancers were able to constantly tie the score, but the Lions held their lead until the score was tied at 21-21. After an attack error from the Lions, the Lancers pushed through to take the lead 22-21. The Lancers reign did not last long as Brittney Hopley (Thornhill, Ont.) smacked down a kill to tie the score at 22-22. With another kill from Hopley and a service ace from Abby Ganzhorn (Markham, Ont.), the Lions were able to squeeze out a 25-22 first set win.
 
In the second set, Veneta Mincheva (Gatineau, Que.), Michelle Pierce (Windsor, Ont,), Hopley and Ganzhorn took control of the game as they showered the Lancers with kills. The Lancers Emily Durand made an excellent effort to stop the Lions kills as she made 10 digs.
 
Mimi Demski (Etobicoke, Ont.) made many tricky plays as she volleyed the ball to the player behind her, rather than in front of her, ultimately confusing the Lancers; Demski made nine assists this game.
 
The Lancers trudged behind in the second as the Lions came out with a big 25-12 win.
 
The Lions continued to push far ahead of the Lancers in the third set as Cadence Currie (Scarborough, Ont.), Jennifer Black (London, Ont.) Mincheva, Pierce, Ganzhorn and Hopley played as strong unit, working together to win their final game of the season. The Lions ended the third set of the game with a score of 25-14, and an overall score of 3-0.
 
Graduating players Pierce, Hopley and Black each played an outstanding game as they represented the Lions one last time. Pierce scored the highest number of points for the Lions with 15.5 including 10 kills, two aces, two assists, two digs and six blocks.
 
Hopely scored 12 points from eight kills and four blocks; and Black led the team with 12 digs.
 
Mincheva was also a strong leader for the Lions as she racked up 12.5 points from nine kills, three service aces, eight digs and one block.
 
Leaders from the Lancers side include Shannon Dean with six kills, one ace and one block; Hannah Robson with six kills and two aces and Carleigh Bailey with four kills and one ace.
 
Unfortunately the Lions did not make it to play offs this year and the next time we will see the women's volleyball team is next season.