The York University Lions men's volleyball team can clinch one of the top two seeds in the OUA East standings on Friday night with a victory over the visiting Nipissing Lakers at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Match-ups: York (10-5) vs. Nipissing (7-8)
 
Game Details
Friday, Feb. 16 @ 8pm, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 7-2 at home
Nipissing – 2-4 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Lost 1
Nipissing – Won 1
 
Last Meetings
The Lions defeated the Lakers 3-1 in their first meeting this year, which came in the season opener for both teams. The Lions won the second of two match-ups last year in four sets, and before that the Lakers had won three straight.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions were flying to start the season, earning wins in eight of their first nine contests to race to the top of the OUA East standings. They have been on a bit of a slide of late, however, with two wins in their last five contests. Last weekend they defeated Brock in four sets and then lost to nationally-ranked McMaster 3-1.
• The Lions are comfortably in position to host an OUA quarter-final game when the regular season ends at the end of the month. They currently sit second in the division with a six-point lead over Nipissing and Queen's and can clinch one of the top two seeds with a win over the Lakers.
• The Lions are one of the highest-scoring teams in the OUA, ranking second in the conference with 16.3 points per set, just behind the first-place Marauders. They rank second in kills per set (12.37) and assists per set (11.31) and lead the OUA with 121 service aces, 26 more than any other team in the conference.

 
Nipissing

• Since the start of the new year, the Lakers have had an up and down ride to their season. They won three straight in early January but then lost four in a row, including a 3-1 defeat to McMaster last weekend. They won their most recent contest, sweeping Brock in straight sets.
• The Lakers are tied with the Gaels for third place in the standings, with Queen's holding the tiebreaker. The Lakers still need a strong finish to clinch a playoff spot, with fifth-place Toronto sitting only two points back.
• The Lakers are right in the middle of the OUA when it comes to scoring, ranking seventh with 14.5 points per set. They are third in blocks per set (2.4), eighth in kills per set (10.69) and sixth in service aces (75).

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
MB Spencer Dakin Kuiper – Ranks 10^th in the OUA and leads the Lions with 0.77 blocks per set. He is sixth in team scoring with 2.0 points per set.
 
OH Andrew Tauhid – The rookie outside hitter is having a great start to his career, ranking third on the team and 23^rd in the OUA with 2.9 points per set.
 
Nipissing
 
RS Cameron Branch – Tied for the team lead and is fifth in OUA scoring with 4.3 points per set. He is also fourth in kills per set (3.79).
 
MB Warren Taylor – Ranks second in the OUA with 1.04 blocks per set, one of only four players with an average over one. He is third in team scoring with 2.2 points per set.