Toronto, ON – Nipissing Men’s Volleyball lost two close matches on the road at York University on Jan. 30 and 31.
Friday, Jan. 30, the Lakers looked to improve their position in the OUA standings with a pivotal matchup against the Lions, who entered the match with the same record as Nipissing: 9-7.
Nipissing took the first set of the match 25-23. Nipissing led 22-18 before York stormed back and brought the score to 24-23. Marc Marchand’s kill gave Nipissing their 25th point and the win.
The second set saw ties all the way until 20-20 was the score as both teams were determined to not let the other slip away. York managed to score five in a row to end the set and win 25-20, tying the match at one set apiece.
In the third, York jumped to a 10-5 lead before Nipissing cut the lead to three off of Marc Marchand kills and Lions’ service errors. York wouild increase their lead to 18-11 and then 21-13 before taking the set, 25-16.
The fourth set saw Nipissing take a 5-1 lead before York woke up and rallied to take an 11-10 lead. The one-point lead turned into a 17-13 advantage for the home side. Zander Kasunich, Marc Marchand, and Jimmy Gill would keep the Lions at bay for the short term but York finished the set and match, winning 25-18 and 3-1.
Then, on Saturday, Jan. 31, the Lakers looked to split the weekend with York with a 4PM matchup on deck.
The first set was a close affair. York took a 17-12 lead before Nipissing battled all the way back to tie the set at 22. Nipissing took a 24-22 lead from a Marc Marchand kill and York service error. York would score a 23rd point but seal their fate with a service error for Nipissing’s 25th point. Lakers led the match 1-0.
In the second, Nipissing jumped to a 5-0 lead quickly before York battled back and eventually tied things at 11. The set would see ties at 15 and 17 before York took eight of the final nine points to close the set 25-20 and tie the match at one.
The third set was close to begin as York took a 12-10 lead. Nipissing battled back into the set and tied things at 18, then, 19, 20, and 21. Taydon Shantz’s kill gave Nipissing their 24th point of the set. York took the next five points in a row to lead 25-24. The score would see ties at 25, 26, 27, and 28 before York won two in a row to secure a 30-28 win and take a 2-1 lead in sets.
The fourth set saw Nipissing gain momentum again, taking a 9-5 and then 10-7 lead. The Lakers lead grew to 15-10 before York again battled back and tied the set, this time at 18. The set saw ties at 19, and 20, before York took two key points in a row that Nipissing wasn’t able to recover from, losing 25-23 and the match 3-1.
The two losses bring Men’s Volleyball to a 9-9 record this season, good for 7th in the OUA with 29 points.
The Lakers have two matches left in the regular season to improve their position for the playoffs. Friday, Feb. 6, the Waterloo Warriors will be the opponents at RJS Athletic Centre at 8PM. Then, Saturday, Feb. 7, the Warriors will face the Lakers again, this time at 4PM.
Catch all the action as the Lakers push for the postseason live on OUA.tv.
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