MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Lakers win twice over Waterloo on road

Waterloo, Ontario – Nipissing Lakers Men’s Volleyball scored two wins over the Waterloo Warriors to open their 2026-27 OUA regular season this past weekend. 

On Friday, Oct. 30, the Lakers opened the first set in a close battle with the Warriors. Nipissing took the lead 11-9 and battled closely with Waterloo. The Lakers led 20-17 before Waterloo brought the score to 21-20 for Nipissing. Nipissing would win 4 of the next 5 points to take the first set 25-21. 

Nipissing battled hard to begin the second set and eventually took an 8-5 lead. Nipissing’s lead would grow to 11-7 before Waterloo would score three of four points to trail by just one, 15-14. Nipissing never gave up the lead and battled back to a 20-16 advantage. The teams would trade points before Nipissing locked up the set win, 25-23. 

The third saw Nipissing run out to a 6-1 lead early. The Lakers then led 10-2 and 15-5. Determined to finish strong, the Lakers won seven of the final 10 points to close the third set 25-13 and win the match 3-0. 

Nipissing’s Jimmy Gill scored 10 kills in the win; Taydon Shantz recorded 8, and Zander Kasunich 7. Justice Smith, Jack Svendsen, and Grant Haley all recorded 1 service ace apiece. Ben Franz led the Lakers with 4 blocks. Jack Svendsen led with 24 assists. Xavier Legace scored 10 digs; Kasunich had 9, Svendsen 7. 

Then, on Saturday, Oct. 31, the Lakers looked to finish the weekend with two wins over the Warriors to begin the season. 

The first set began slowly as the teams saw a tie 5-5 early. Nipissing took the lead 11-6 before scoring four points in a row to lead 16-8. Nipissing then led 20-10 before winning 5 of the last 6 points in the set to close out a dominant 25-12 win. 

Nipissing was on another roll to begin the second set, leading 5-1 and then 9-3. The lead would grow to 16-8, then 17-10. Waterloo would try to get into the match, but Nipissing scored another three points in a row to lead 22-14. Waterloo woke up and scored five in a row to trail 23-20. A well-placed timeout by Head Coach Eric Yung helped quell the Warriors momentum, and Nipissing would take 2 of the last 3 points to close a 25-21 set victory and 3-0 win.  

Nipissing’s Zander Kasunich scored 13 kills in the win; Taydon Shantz had 9, and Justice Smith had 5. Kasunich recorded 3 service aces and Jack Svendsen had 1. Kasunich and Ethan Braam recorded 3 blocks each. Svendsen recorded 31 assists. Taydon Shantz led with 9 digs; Xavier Legace recorded 8, and Svendsen 5. 

The two 3-0 wins put Men’s Volleyball at a 2-0 record to begin the 2026-27 regular season. 

The Lakers are back in action on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30PM at home at RJS Student Athletic Centre. The Queen’s Gaels will be the visitors for the Lakers 2026-27 home opener. 

Tickets are available here or at the door. The match will be live on OUA.TV.