The York University Lions women's volleyball team began the 2016-17 campaign with a straight sets win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Friday night (Oct. 28).
 
The victory marked the first for new head coach John May.
 
The first set was never in doubt as the Lions raced out to a 10-1 advantage, in part thanks to five straight service aces by Celeste Witzell (Kitchener, Ont.), and never looked back. They took the set 25-12 to lead 1-0 early.
 
The second set started out in similar fashion as the Lions jumped out to an 8-2 lead en route to a 25-17 set win.
 
The Thunderwolves finally started to find their groove in the third set and it was tied 7-7, but that was as close as Lakehead would get. The Lions went on a four-point run to lead 11-7 and held a seven-point advantage at 16-9 at the technical timeout. They ended up taking the set 25-20.
 
Witzell finished with 12 points on four kills, seven service aces and one block and added three digs to lead all players, while Melissa Smillie (White Rock, B.C.) had 11 points on eight kills and three service aces, as well as eight digs, a match high.
 
Lakehead's leading scorer was Kailan Robinson with 10 points on eight kills and two service aces.
 
The Lions will be back in action on home court next weekend when they welcome the Nipissing Lakers to the Tait McKenzie Centre for a match beginning at 6pm.