The York University Men's volleyball team hosted the Nipissing Lakers on senior day at Tait McKenzie Centre. The Lions eight graduates – Nathan Luken, Shaun Schonert, Jordan Gazzola, Anders Say, Richard Housen Jr., Alex Ko, Jasraj Nijjar and Alex Dorling – were honoured in a pregame ceremony.
The Lions came into this game after defeating the Lakers on Friday in four sets. York controlled much of the opening set in this one, but with the score 18–15, the Lakers went on a decisive 10–5 run to steal the set by a 25-23 score, taking the opening set for a second straight match.
The Lakers brought this momentum into the second set and scored five unanswered points forcing Lions head coach Jordan Taylor to call an early timeout. The timeout proved effective as Dennis Cota and Alex Dorling helped rally the lions to cut the lead to one. The Lions then tied it at 11-11 and took the lead on the next point to cap a 12-6 burst. Then, tied at 20-20, the Lions scored five unanswered points of their own to take the set 25-20 and knot things one set apiece.
The Lakers bounced back and started the third set 3-0. The Lions evemtually got their first lead of the set 17-16. With the set again tied at 20-20 to go up 24-20 and put York on the brink of a third-set loss. However, the Lions staved off four straight set points to tie it at 24-24. The teams then traded points up to a 28-all tie, and after York took the lead, Luken sealed the set with a block as the Lions took set three 30-28 to grab a 2-1 lead.
The Lions fell behind in the fourth 3-0 and trailed 16-12 midway through the set before another rally eventually tied it up at 18. They took the lead 20-19 on a block by Dennis Cota and Daniel Lafleur. The Lions got to set point up after a kill from Bodhi Jones, and after he committed a service error to make it a one-point game, the Lakers returned the favour as the Lions battled back to win a third straight set for the second consecutive night, taking the third 25-23 and the match 3-1.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions travel to London to face the Western Mustangs for their final two matches of the regular season beginning next Friday afternoon. The Lions have clinched a playoff berth and will now try to lock down an opening-round home playoff game. First serve on Friday is set for 3:00 pm, live on OUA TV.
