The York University men's volleyball team were defeated 3-2 after five sets by the Queen's Gaels on Sunday afternoon at Tait Mackenzie Centre.
 
The Lions jumped out to a 2-1 lead over the No. 9 Gaels but Queen's came back and won the last two sets to defeat the Lions. The Gaels are sitting in first-place in the OUA East standings with a 12-3 record, while the Lions remain in fourth-place with a 5-7 record.
 
The Gaels had a strong first set, leading the Lions 16-9 by the mid set break. The Lions managed to cut the large lead to just four points, 24-20, however the Gaels earned the final point to take the set 25-20.
 
The Lions come out flying in the second set, and after three consecutive aces by Andrew Tauhid, the Lions led the Gaels 7-4. York held onto their lead to enter the mid set break leading 16-12. With the Lions leading 24-20, the Gaels earned three points to bring the close set to just one point at 24-23. However middle Toure Nwakwesi earned a huge kill and the final point for the Lions to take the set 25-23.
 
With the game tied 1-1, both teams were looking to take the lead. The Gaels earned an early 4-1 lead, however a kill by Tauhid put the Liosn back on top 5-4. In a tight third set, the score was tied a total of nine times. It was the Lions who came on top, to lead the Gaels 16-13 midway through the set. The Lions earned the final point off a Queen's service error to take the set 25-20 and lead the Gaels 2-1.
 
The Gaels earned an early lead at the start of the fourth set which led them to enter the midway break with the Lions trialing 16-11. They maintained their lead throughout the rest of the set and won 25-19, tying the game 2-2.
 
The deciding set was extremely close with the score being tied twice, 5-5 and 6-6, before the Gaels earned a point off a kill to enter the break leading 8-7. A kill by Tyler Covach tied the game 8-8, however the Gaels earned three more points to lead the Lions 11-8. A kill by Nwakwesi brought the Lions to just two points behind the Gaels, 13-11, but the Gaels earned the last two points off a kill and a service ace to take the set 15-11.
 
Andrew Shotbolt had a big game earning 18 points, one assist and one dig, along with Tauhid who had 18 points, three assists, and eight digs. Leading the way for the Gaels was Zac Hutcheson who had 27 points, two digs, and two blocks.
 
The Lions will be competing against the Brock Badgers on Feb. 9 in St. Catharines, Ont. in their next game. The game is scheduled to start at 3pm.