The York University Lions volleyball teams took to the Tait McKenzie Centre floor for Next Gen Night on Saturday, with the next generation of future volleyball stars in attendance.
The women faced the Nipissing Lakers and the men battled the Varsity Blues in rematches of Friday night’s thrilling Lions victories in which the women beat the Lakers 3-1, while the men secured a 3-0 straight set victory over the Blues.
Women’s Match:
Meghan Kociancic got things started with a service ace in an opening set that proceeded to be a back-and-forth affair, as neither team had a run longer than three. Quinn McTavish had five kills, while Victoria Herrington and Brooklyn Parliament each notched two. With York leading 24-23, Julia Typa and Amari Endes iced the set with a block, giving the Lions a 1-0 match lead.
York marched to a 13-4 run to open the second set, with McTavish racking up two aces in that stretch. Great defence from the Lions forced the Lakers into eleven errors in the second set alone, as York won the set 25-14 and took a 2-0 lead in the match, putting Nipissing on the brink.
The Lakers took control to open the third set, going up by as much as nine at 19-10. Trailing 21-12, York went on a 9-2 run to remain competitive. The rally was bolstered by two blocks and a kill from Endes. The visitors, however, would successfully close out the third, securing a 25-22 set victory to stay alive and make the match 2-1 in favor of York.
Nipissing continued their momentum in the fourth set, going on an 8-4 run to start. Unlike the third set, The Lakers kept their foot on the gas throughout, winning the set 25-15 to tie it at 2-2 and force a deciding fifth set.
McTavish started the fifth with an ace. From there, the set would be neck-and-neck, with each team exchanging 3-0 runs on their way to an 8-8 score. While York was able to take a 12-10 lead, Nipissing would close out with a 5-0 run to win the set 15-12 and secure a 3-2 come-from behind victory.
Men’s Match:
The Lions got off to a 3-1 start, but Toronto responded with a 5-0 run. The Lions recorded nine kills in the set, including two from Alexander Ko and three from Dennis Cota, but the Varsity Blues won the set 25-15 for their first set win of the weekend.
The Toronto rivals alternated scores to open the second set, battling to a 9-9 score. In a close set, York’s efforts were led by Ko and Chris Hoffman, who had four and three kills respectively. The Blues would go on to win the set 25-22 to take a 2-0 lead and put the Lions in jeopardy of a sweep.
Looking to extend to a fourth set, York fought hard to stay in it. The home team was able to get out to a 10-7 lead, before the Blues made a quick 3-0 run to tie it up. It was punch–counter-punch throughout the third, as the set reached extras at 24-all. After reaching a 28-28 deadlock, the Blues pulled away with a kill from Hunter Arulpragasam and a Ko error to take the set 30-28 and, in a reversal, off Friday night, secure a 3-0 straight-sets win.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions women’s make the long trip to Thunder Bay to battle the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Friday to open a weekend series, with first serve set for 6:00 pm. Meanwhile, the men travel down the QEW Hamilton to face the McMaster Marauders on Friday, in the first-half of a weekend double-header. Opening serve flies at approximately 8:00 pm.