The York University Lions women's volleyball team got back into the win column on Saturday with their 3-1 victory over the Nipissing Lakers at home at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
The first set started well for the Lions as they led the game early 11- 3, with a fantastic kill from
Aleksandra Steins over the Lakers. The Lions did not let their feet off the gas as they dominated the first set.
Tara Leithead scored a serve ace to give the Lions the set point, and a serve error from the Lakers closed the first set 25-9 for the Lions.
The Lions started the second strong with a wide lead thanks to a kill from
Wesley-Ann Bailey. However, the Lakers tied the scored off of a Lions' attack error and a serve error. The Lakers gained momentum as both teams were battling for the lead. Nevertheless, the Lakers broke through and increased the lead for the first time in the game, but the Lions were close behind them. A kill from Steins helped the Lions regain their composures and gain a three-point lead, forcing the Lakers to call a timeout. The score was getting closer until the Lions scored a set point from
Jessica Reynolds and a ended the set with a kill from
Olivia Kim to take it 25-20.
The third set started electrically. The Lakes gained the lead for the first time at 5-2, but the Lions began to narrow the Lakers lead with a kill from Steins and another from
Sarah Williams to cut the lead to one point. A series of four straight points helped the Lions gain a safe edge, but the Lakers were not far behind. Later on, in the set, the Lakers took back the lead and they held it to the end to win the set 25-21 and extend the match.
In the final set, the Lakers once again gained an early lead. Both teams were jostling back and forth until the Lions earned a three-point edge with help from Reynolds. A service ace from Leithead put the Lions up 21-18 and they cruised to the finish line, taking the final set 25-19.
Steins lead the team with the highest number of kills with 13 and 14 points overall, followed by Kim with nine and 10 overall points.
The Lions will look to continue their winning ways when they play their next game on Saturday on the road at the Mattamy Athletic Centre against the Ryerson Rams at 6pm
