The York University Lions men's volleyball team pushed the No. 4 Toronto Varsity Blues right to the end but ultimately fell by a score of 3-2 to their city rivals at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Saturday evening.
 
The Blues pushed their lead atop the OUA East Division standings with a 9-1 record, while the Lions remain in fifth place at 2-7. The top four teams in the division will qualify for the playoffs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was a nail-biter, with neither team gaining an advantage of more than one for the set's entirety. Finally, at 26-26, the Lions won two straight points to take the opening set.
• The second set played out in similar fashion with the two teams again evenly matched. Toronto led 16-14 at the technical timeout, but the Lions pulled ahead 19-16 after a series of strong offensive plays. But it was the Blues who rolled from there, winning nine of the next 12 points to take the set 25-22.
• In the third, the Lions pulled ahead on multiple occasions but each time, the Blues responded. Down 22-21, the home squad played a series of strong points and won the set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
• The fourth was similar, with the two teams tied at 20-20. But this time the Lions could not get ahead and the Blues levelled the match with a 25-21 win.
• The Lions took the first point of the fifth but from there it was all Toronto and the Blues won 15-9.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS

• Andrew Tauhid led all players with 20.5 points in the match, on 19 kills and three assisted blocks. He also had five digs and two assists.
• Also reaching double digits in scoring was Dan Everton with 13.5 points, as well as a match-high 12 digs and four assists.
• Toronto's leading scorer was Evan Falardeau with 17.5 points.

 
LOOKING AHEAD
 
The Lions have two more games remaining on the regular season schedule, both on the road in Kingston, Ont. They will face the Queen's Gaels on back-to-back days, with first serve set for 8pm on both Friday and Saturday.