The York University Lions women's volleyball team clinched a playoff spot on Friday night thanks to a 3-1 win over the Windsor Lancers at the Tait McKenzie Centre, picking up their second victory in a row.
 
The Lions improved to 9-9 in the OUA East standings and moved into sole possession of fourth place in the division with one game remaining on the schedule. They can still finish as high as third depending on Saturday's results.
 
In the opening set of Friday's game, the Lions were all about their business as they established a large lead fast, streaking to a 20-9 advantage with virtually no speed bumps. For the final point of the match the Lancers would serve the Lions the victory as they sent their own serve into the net to end the set with a score of 25-12.
 
Following the Lions' dominant first set victory, the Lancers utilized their ability to block hits at the point of attack and would in-turn take an 18-13 lead. Slowly but surely the Lions clawed their way back into the picture with Melissa Monkhouse (Guelph, Ont.), Sarah Williams (Oakville, Ont.) and Celeste Witzell (Kitchener, Ont.) taking the reigns. The trio combined their blocking and hitting talents to tie the game at 23. From this point Windsor stymied the Lions' hopes of completing their comeback with the Lancers closing the game out by a score of 26-24.  
 
With the Lions and Lancers gridlocked at one set apiece, Witzell would become a pest at the net. Witzell stuffed a block down the throats of Windsor's front row and then proceeded to plaster the ball to the floor with an aggressive kill on the next rally. She would finish the game with a team-leading 27 points. With the score at 24-20 in favour of the Lions, Witzell and Heather Setka (Winnipeg) would create a wall at the net to reject Windsor's kill attempt and take the set by a score of 25-20. 

Witzell earned her 27 points thanks in large part to 10 service aces, as well as 12 kills and five blocks.
 
The Lions were now up 2-1 in sets and hoped to end the game with a fourth set victory. York had an effective start as they moved swiftly to a 8-1 lead. However, the Lancers would string together some strong plays and build their way back to a 8-7 score. Following Windsor's valiant effort, York would mount an 11-0 run which was capped off Williams' showing no mercy to the ball and collecting another one of her team-leading 14 kills.
 
In the waning points of the set, Keeva MacLeod (Ottawa) leaped to block Windsor's scoring chance and put the Lions in place to take the victory. Directly following the block, Melissa Monkhouse would cram her 12^th kill to the feet of the Lancers front row and the Lions would roll to a 25-15 victory.  
 
The Lions' next, and final, home game will take place on Saturday when the Western Mustangs travel from London, Ont., to Toronto, to take on the Lions in a contest beginning at 6pm.