The York University Lions men's volleyball team will look to get back into the win column this weekend when the squad continues its homestand against the visiting Guelph Gryphons and Waterloo Warriors at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Match-up: York (3-1) vs. Guelph (3-3) and Waterloo (2-4)
 
Game Details
Guelph – Friday, Nov. 17 @ 8pm, OUA.tv
Waterloo – Saturday, Nov. 18 @ 8pm, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 0-1 at home
Guelph – 2-1 on the road
Waterloo – 1-2 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Lost 1
Guelph – Won 1
Waterloo – Lost 1
 
Last Meetings
The Lions won the lone match-up between them and the Gryphons last year, taking it in straight sets on the road. In the two seasons before that, when the two teams met twice per year, they split their season series both times.
 
Saturday features a rematch against the Warriors, the team that upset the Lions in the OUA quarter-finals last year to end York's hopes of a Final Four appearance. The Lions defeated the Warriors in their regular-season meeting, in four sets, and the year before that the two teams split their season series with one win each.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions were defeated in four sets by nationally-ranked Ryerson in their first home game of the season last Friday night. They won the first set but then fell in the next three.
• Prior to last weekend, the Lions won their first three matches on the road. They defeated Nipissing in four sets in North Bay, Ont., and then took down both RMC and Queen's in five sets in Kingston, Ont.
• The Lions are one of the highest-scoring teams in the OUA, ranking second in the conference with 16.1 points per set. They are also one of the most aggressive serving teams in the OUA, tying for the conference lead with 36 service aces.

 

Guelph

• The Gryphons have split each of their first three weekend series. Last weekend they were swept by the Gaels and then defeated the Paladins in straight sets.
• In the previous weeks, the Gryphons defeated the Mustangs and Badgers and lost to the Lancers and Marauders.
• Like the Lions, the Gryphons are a strong-serving team with an OUA-best 36 service aces. They rank ninth overall in the OUA with 13.6 points per set.
• The Gryphons were a Final Four team last year and finished as the OUA bronze medallists.

 
Waterloo

• The Warriors started the season with four straight losses but have since won two out of three, defeating Brock 3-1 and RMC 3-0. They come into this weekend after a loss, falling in five sets to Queen's.
• The Warriors are also a big offensive team, ranking third in the OUA with 15.5 points per set. They are first in the OUA with 258 kills and second with 53 blocks.
• The Warriors have reached the OUA Final Four Championships six years in a row and have reached the national tournament in three straight years. They won the OUA silver medal last season.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
OH Tyler Covach – Back this season after missing all of last year, he is tied for the team's leading scorer and ranks 17^th in the OUA with 3.3 points per set.
 
LIB Jules Muhawe – Leads the Lions and ranks fourth in the OUA with 2.73 digs per set.
 
Guelph
 
RS Matthew Baxter – The team's leading scorer is ninth in the OUA with 3.7 points per set. He is tied for second in service aces (nine) and 13^th in kills per set (2.9).
 
S Samuel Kloke – Ranks sixth in the OUA with 8.75 assists per set.
 
Waterloo
 
RS Braden Cok – Leads the Warriors and is tied for sixth in OUA scoring with 4.3 points per set. He is tied for sixth in total blocks (16), seventh in kills per set (3.55) and fourth in service aces (eight).
 
S Colm Guyn – Sits third in the OUA with 9.95 assists per set.