The York Lions men's volleyball lost a close game 3-2 to their cross-town rivals the Ryerson Rams on Saturday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. The Lions held a 2-1 lead but were unable to hold off their rivals as the Rams took the last two sets to secure the victory.   
 
The Rams drew first blood in the match winning the first set 25-21. Grant Lynch scored the first point of the set for the Lions to the score at 1-1, but the Rams would pull ahead and hold the lead for the rest of the set. The score remained close right until the end with Andrew Shotbolt pulling the Lions within two points at 23-21, but the Rams would win the next two points to take the opening set.
 
The Lions would take the next two sets to take a 2-1 lead in the game. The second set was back and forth with both teams holding the lead in another tightly contested set. With the score tied at 24-24 the Lions would win the next two points on a kill by Shotbolt and a block by Lynch to even the game. After they started the third set down 7-4, the Lions turned the tides and dominated the rest of set, winning 25-16 to gain the advantage heading into the fourth set.
 
 The Rams bounced back in the fourth set, winning 25-21 to send the game into a fifth and deciding set. In the fifth set, the game was close in the early going with the Rams holding a tight 9-7 lead. They took a 14-10 to match point and won the game on a kill by Xander Ketrzynski for a 15-10 score in the deciding set.
 
Andrew Tauhid led the Lions with 28.5 points and 24 kills, while Lynch had a strong game with 13.5 points and three blocks. Setter Logan Mend with 43 assists, 6.5 points and six digs. Ketrzynski led the Rams with 22 points and 19 kills.
 
York will be back in action next weekend when they host the Nipissing Lakers on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Tait McKenzie Centre. The Lions will have pay back on their minds after they lost the first game of the year to the Lakers by a score of 3-1. The action starts at 8pm.