The York University Lions women's volleyball team came up just short in a five-set loss to the Waterloo Warriors at the Tait McKenzie Centre in their first OUA game of 2020.
 
The Lions nearly came all the way back from a two-set deficit but could not close it out, falling 15-11 in the fifth set to fall to 5-5 on the year. The Warriors improved to 5-4 with the win.
 
In the first set, the Warriors took an early lead and then tripled it to 9-3. The Lions started to gain their momentum with Mae MacNeil scoring a fantastic kill that energized the Lions, followed by another point from Sarah Williams. However, the energy didn't last long as the Warriors quickly gained points with two quick kills. The score was 17-9 for the Warriors until the Lions started to inch closer to tie it. Olivia Kim scores a fanatic kill followed by a service ace from Kayla Clennon. The Warriors, however, had the first set in their sights as they continued to score a series of points and finished the first set with 25-17.
 
In the second, the Warriors led the entire set and won the second with 25-22 over the Lions. 
 
In the third set, the Lions scored first with a kill from Wesley-Ann Bailey, followed by another kill from Jessica Reynolds. However, the Lions didn't lead for long as the Warriors pulled ahead. The Lions were down 11-7 when a great block from Bailey followed by a kill from Williams gave the Lions a two-point lead. The Warriors quickly gained three points off of the Lions to regain the lead. Libero Lauren Boddington had a great game as the Lions kept the rally going in the third. An ace from Williams helped to tie 21-21, and the Lions won the set with a tip from Aleksandra Steins and ended 25-23.
 
In the fourth, the Warriors gained an early lead with the Lions close behind. Luckily, the Lions quickly gained the lead with a kill from Reynolds. A strong block from Stein gave the Lions a two-point lead. Reynolds helped the Lions gain the edge as the Warriors began to fall apart in the fourth. In the final points of the set, the Lions were up by three points and had the win in their grasp. A strong kill from Williams gave the Lions the set point, and a wicked block from Bailey and Kim helped the Lions gain the set 25-22.
 
In the final set, the Lions took the lead early but the Warriors quickly caught up. A strong kill from Kim helps the Lions gain the edge, followed by Reynolds. After the Warriors took the lead, a quick kill from Stein helped the Lions gain momentum but it was a little too late as the Warriors were edging closer to take the win. Despite the Lions comeback, they fell short to the Warriors 15-11, and the Warriors took the game 3-2.
 
Reynold led the team 16 kills, followed by Williams with 14 and Kim had 11. Williams also added a team-high 18 digs and Chiara Da Silva finished with 42 assists.
 
The Lions play their next game on Sunday, at home, against the Guelph Gryphons at 1pm.