BLUES DROP TO LAKERS IN SECOND HALF OF BACK-TO-BACK

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s volleyball team fell to the Nipissing Lakers 13-1 (20-25, 25-21, 11-25, 16-25) on Saturday night (Feb. 11) in North Bay, Ont.
 
With the loss, the Blues record falls to 12-7 for this season, but they continue to hold their third-place position in the OUA standings.
 
TORONTO STATS: Veterans Evan Falardeau and Mitchell Neuert both led the Blues with 14 points. Both Falardeau and Neuert recorded 13 kills and one solo block in the loss.

Second-year setter Davis Young tied a game-high 35 assists while recording a team-high 14 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Lakers opened the first set with a three-point run which set the tone for the duration of the set. The Blues battled back to tie the Lakers midway through the set (12-12), but the Lakers ultimately came out on top by a score of 25-20.
 
Trading the lead through the beginning of the second set, it was a Falardeau kill that separated the two sides. Following the kill, the Blues would go on a five-point run and held that lead for the remainder of the set, taking it 25-21.
 
With the teams tied, it was anyone’s game in the third set. The Lakers scored the first point and built their lead with a series of runs. With errors being the downfall of the Blues, the Lakers took the set 25-11.
 
The fourth and final set saw a repeat of the previous set. Although a kill from second-year outside hitter, Hunter Arulpragasam gave the Blues an early lead, the midway point (13-13) proved to be a turning point in the set. With errors made by the Blues team and an increased attacking effort from the Lakers, the Blues trailed for the remainder of the set. A seven-point run from the Lakers would ultimately prove the difference-maker for the home team (25-16).

UP NEXT: The Blues return to action in their final regular season game at home at the
Goldring Centre Kimel Family Field House next Sunday, February 19 against McMaster University. First serve is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.