The York Lions men's volleyball team took on the Waterloo Warriors this afternoon with game two of their weekend series. After a five-set match last night the stage was set for today to be another day of action-packed volleyball.

The Lions showed they were still riding the momentum from the previous night, taking the opening point of the match. However, the Warriors quickly snatched the next, establishing the tone for another back-and-forth battle. Both teams opened with a high hitting percentage, capitalizing on nearly every chance. Bodhi Jones and Colby Soolsma led the Lions' offensive charge, and at the end of a tightly contested set, the Lions took the set win, 25-22.

York carried their momentum into the second set. The Lions' offence was brilliantly anchored by setter Jasraj Nijjar, whose tactical, deceptive setting kept the Warriors guessing and positioned the Lions for optimal attacks. Defensively, Dennis Cota was a wall at the net, finding the ball for crucial blocks and completely shutting down several of the Warriors' offensive attempts. The strong collective effort allowed the Lions to take the second set, 25-23.

Facing a two-set deficit, the Warriors tightened their game significantly in the third. They minimized their errors and found ways to penetrate the Lions' defense. A late-set run proved to be the decisive factor, giving Waterloo the needed advantage to take the set, 25-18, and force the match to continue.

The Warriors carried that momentum straight into the fourth set, maintaining intense pressure on the Lions. In response, the Lions utilized their deep roster, activating attackers from all areas of the court. Jasraj Nijjar's excellent setting continued to fuel the offence, finding Bodhi Jones, Alex Dorling, and Chris Hoffman for crucial hits in the middle of the set. Despite the effort, the Warriors were able to hold on and force the tiebreaker, taking the set, 25-21.

The fifth and final set featured continued powerful play from both sides. While both teams pressed hard on offence, the difference came down to execution under pressure. The Lions struggled with some costly, ill-timed errors, while the Warriors kept their play controlled and limited their mistakes. The Warriors capitalized on this advantage, ultimately securing the final set, 15-12, and taking the victory in the weekend's second five-set match.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Up next, the Lions will begin a stretch of games at home looking to carry their early season momentum. The home stretch starts against the Toronto Varsity Blues next Friday evening with the match set for 8:00 pm at the Tait McKenzie Centre.