On Friday evening, the York University Lions men’s volleyball team travelled to Guelph to take on the Guelph Gryphons in their OUA regular-season opener. The Lions looked to start their campaign with a strong performance against the Gryphons in a tough early test. Despite battling through five competitive sets, York fell 3–2, giving them an 0–1 record to begin the season.
York came out ready to play early, with Chris Hoffman, Andrew Voorn and Dennis Cota contributing to the Lions’ offence. Both teams exchanged points throughout the set, keeping the score close as York looked to establish an early advantage. The Lions managed to tie the score at 23–23 late in the set, but Guelph responded with two consecutive points to take the opening set 25–23, to take a 1-0 lead.
The visitors looked to bounce back and even the match in the second, and would do just that. The Lions found their rhythm offensively, with Hoffman, Cota and Voorn helping generate important attacking opportunities. Newly-minted starting setter Aidan Labossiere also contributed by setting up his teammates and creating chances for York to capitalize on. The Lions delivered a strong second-set performance, taking the second 25–22 and bringing the match level at one set apiece.
The third set brought another competitive battle between the two teams. York continued to apply offensive pressure, looking to take control of the match, while Guelph responded with attacks of its own. Both sides again traded points for much of the set, with neither team able to create much separation until late in the frame. With the Lions up 18-17, they closed the set on a 7-3 run, punctuated by an Alexandru Ignat kill. The Lions took the third 25-20 and grabbed a 2-1 lead.
Entering the fourth set, the Lions looked to finish the Gryphons off in four. York continued to push offensively, with Hoffman and Cota contributing important kills while Labossiere helped create scoring opportunities for his teammates. The Lions maintained their composure and found ways to build an advantage as the set progressed. With the set tied 16-16, Guelph reeled off four straight points to take a 19-16 lead. A Voorn kill eventually brought York back even at 21, but the Gryphons forced a fifth set with an Owen Evans kill and a Cota error. They took the fourth 26-24 to set up a winner-take-all fifth.
Hoffman helped get York on the scoreboard early in the fifth, as the Lions took a quick 4-1 lead. Guelph responded and gradually worked its way into the lead, scoring four straight to go from down 6-3 to up 7-6. The Lions continued to battle and stayed within reach as the set came down to its final points. However, the Gryphons managed to score he deciding point on a York attack error, taking the final set 15–13 and securing a 3–2 victory.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will look to bounce back when they face the Gryphons again on Saturday night in Guelph in the second game of their weekend series. Action is slated to start at 7:30 p.m., pending the length of the preceding women’s match, which begins at 6:00 p.m. You can watch the game live and on demand on OUA TV.
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