The York University Lions men's volleyball team hits the court to continue OUA regular season action for their first conference games of 2017 this weekend against the Ryerson Rams and Trent Excalibur.
 
The Match-ups: York (5-2) vs. Ryerson (6-3) and Trent (0-8)
 
Game Details
Ryerson – Saturday, Jan. 14 @ 2pm, OUA.tv
Trent – Sunday, Jan. 15 @ 4pm, OUA.tv
 
Special Promotions
Beach Blizzard! (Saturday only)

• Wear beach attire and receive a free Lions water bottle
• First 50 fans receive Lions sunglasses
• Rock Your Red and you can win a hotel stay or YU Bookstore gift certificate

 
Home/Away Records
York – 2-1 at home
Ryerson – 4-1 on the road
Trent – 0-4 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Won 5
Ryerson – Won 3
Trent – Lost 8
 
Last Meetings
The Lions cruised to a lopsided three-set win over the Rams in their first meeting this season for their first win of the year, winning 25-19, 25-21 and 25-18. Ryerson swept the two-game regular-season series last year, taking both matches in four sets.
 
The Lions faced the Excalibur for the first time in program history earlier this season in Peterborough, Ont., and picked up an easy straight sets win, taking the three sets 25-19, 25-15 and 25-15.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions are the hottest team in the OUA East, rattling off five straight victories before the December break to move into a three-way tie for second place in the division, just one win back of Ryerson.
• Among their victories in the first half of the season was a five-set thriller over Toronto and a four-set win over Queen's, which was the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. The win over the Blues is the only match that has gone the distance.
• The Lions won the bronze medal at their annual Excalibur Classic tournament last week, defeating Budo in five sets in the third-place game.

 
Ryerson

• Something will have to give on Saturday as the Rams are also riding a winning streak, picking up victories in their last three before the break. They defeated Windsor, Toronto and Trent after back-to-back losses to Nipissing and York in November.
• The Rams competed at the Waterloo Warrior Tournament over the holidays and lost all three contests to Dalhousie, Brandon and the host Warriors.
• The Rams face only the Lions this weekend and only Nipissing next weekend before finally settling back into two-game weekends at the end of January.

 
Trent

• The Excalibur are still looking for their first win after an 0-8 start. They have won only two sets thus far, one each against Brock and Ryerson.
• The Excalibur are the newest team in the OUA after joining for the first time this year.
• Before this year, the Paladins had not won an OUA men's volleyball match in at least seven years dating back to the 2009-10 season.
• Trent will also face first-place Nipissing as part of their weekend schedule and then won't be in action again for the rest of the month, returning to the court in early January to face Queen's and RMC on the road.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
M Alex Duncan-Thibault – Named the best attacker at the Excalibur tournament last week. He is third in OUA scoring with 5.0 points per set. He is also first in blocks per set (1.23) and sixth in kills per set (3.63).
 
LIB Jules Muhawe – Ranks second in the OUA with 2.42 digs per set.
 
Ryerson
 
OH Lucas Coleman – Tied for the OUA scoring lead with 5.3 points per set. He is second in kills per set (4.53) and first in service aces (15).
 
S Adam Anagnostopoulos – Ranks second in the OUA with 9.91 assists per set.
 
Trent
 
OH Jacob Brothen – Leads the team and is tied for 33^rd in OUA scoring with 2.4 points per set.
 
S Thomas Martin – Ranks 12^th in the OUA with 6.24 assists per set.