The York University Lions volleyball teams concluded their 2024-25 regular season campaigns on the road against the TMU Bold on Saturday afternoon. The women fell 3-1 on Friday night while the men lost 3-0.
While the women’s playoff hopes were extinguished Friday, Saturdya’s match offered the team a chance to close out the season on a high note and finish with a .500 record. It also marked an opportunity for some Lions to finish the season strong. Middle blocker Amarai Endes, playing her final match as a Lion, led the OUA in hitting percentage at .330 coming in, and sought to finish atop that category for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, setter Meghan Kociancic sits third in the OUA in assists at 561, while Julia Typa and Victoria Herrington both sit in the OUA top twenty-five in points.
Despite falling in straight sets to the Bold on Friday night, the men had control over their own destiny heading into the final day of the regular season. With a win or losses by the Toronto Varsity Blues (at RMC) and Queen’s Gaels (at Trent), York would wrap up the second seed. Had the Lions and Gaels lost and the Blues won, York would have finished third. If the Blues and Gaels won and the Lions lost, York would fall to fourth place.
Women’s Match:
TMU opened the set with a 6-3 run, but York was able to rally, with two service aces from Julia Typa, plus two kills from Victoria Herrington and Brooklyn Parliament in a 7-4 run tied things at 10. Things continued to be tight when the set reached 23-all, where the Bold would score the next two to win the set 25-23 to take a 1-0 lead.
The Lions rebounded with a furious start to the second set. York opened with a 12-2 run, which consisted in part of two service aces from Meghan Kociancic to go with two kills from Typa. While the Bold would claw their way back to within striking distance, Parliament sealed the set with a kill to win it 25-21 and tie the match 1-1.
The third set was evenly matched early, trading scores to a 13-13 tie. The Lions then went on a 10-2 run to take a 23-15 lead, propelled by a kill and two service aces from Herrington. TMU would rally with a 6-1 run, but a Typa kill gave the Lions the set 25-21 and a 2-1 lead.
While York established a 14-11 advantage to open the fourth set, TMU swiftly turned the tide with an 11-3 run to lead 22-17. Quinn McTavish paced the Lions with four kills in the frame, but TMU clinched the set 25-21 to tie the match 2-2 and set it to a fifth and deciding set.
York got out to a 6-3 lead before TMU responded with a 7-4 run to even it at 10. The Lions would then go on a 5-2 run, powered by Typa and Herrington kills. The 15-12 set victory gave the Lions the match 3-2 and a 10-10 record, a four-win improvement on the 2023-24 campaign.
Men’s Match:
With the Lions fighting for playoff seeding, and the Bold trying to keep their playoff hopes alive, the first set illustrated the urgency of this matchup. Neither side was able to go on a substantial run, as the set went into extras. Chris Hoffman and Alexander Ko had five kills, while Alex Dorling had four of his own. The Lions thought they dropped the opening set 29-27, but a point reversal gave the visitors new life. Then, tied at 31, Dennis Cota clinched the set with two blocks. The 33-31 set victory gave York the 1-0 advantage.
The Lions put their foot on the gas to start the second, racing out to a 14-6 lead. A 5-0 run increased the advantage to 19-6. Cota’s third kill of the set secured a 25-13 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Bold took early control of the third , building a 10-5 lead. After increasing their lead to 20-12, the Lions mounted a 4-0 run to make things interesting at 20-16. Dorling and Ko registered three kills apiece in the set, but the Bold, would go on to win it 25-19 and make the score 2-1.
The teams traded scores to a 10-10 tie in the fourth set. While the Bold threatened to push a fifth set with a 22-20 lead, York went on a 5-0 run which featured two kills from Cota and Natthan Luken and a Dorling ace. The 25-20 set win gave York the 3-1 match victory.
The Lions clinched the second seed in the OUA with the victory. While the Lions, Gaels and Blues all finished with 15-5 records, York held the sets won in head-to-head competition tiebreaker. The win also secures the Lions a 15-5 record and their best season since the 2016-17 season when they went 15-3.
LOOKING AHEAD:
While the women’s team looks forward to 2025-26, the Lions men’s team will host either the Western Mustangs or the Guelph Gryphons in the OUA quarterfinals next Saturday, Feb. 22. Stay tuned to yorkulions.ca for details on opponent and first serve time.