The York University Lions men’s volleyball team was looking to improve their 1-4 record, but it was the undefeated Guelph Gryphons who maintained their title and 6-0 record on Friday night at the Tait McKenzie Centre. Although York secured the first set with a score of 25-23, Guelph turned the tide and claimed victory in the subsequent three sets with scores of 25-21, 25-17, and 25-16.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Throughout the opening set, York held on to a slim one-to-two-point lead, facing a determined Gryphons team. Alexandru Ignat and Shaun Schonert, both delivering four kills each, played a crucial role in keeping the Lions in the game with their forceful spikes.
As the score evened out at 17, and points were exchanged between the teams, the Lions managed to secure a 25-23 set victory with three consecutive points, featuring two kills by Alex Ko.
In another closely contested set, the visitors secured a favourable outcome with a 7-2 run, setting the tone for the remainder of the second set. From that point onward, the Gryphons smoothly navigated their way to a 25-21 set victory.
A familiar sequence of runs played out in the match, resembling the dynamics observed in the second set, as the visitors orchestrated an initial 8-3 run. The Lions faced difficulties in the set, with significant impact coming from both service and attack errors, resulting in a 25-17 loss for the team in the third set.
In the fourth set, the Gryphons reestablished their momentum around the midpoint, securing a 21-14 lead. Despite the Lions’ efforts, they couldn’t narrow the gap in the late stages, leading to Guelph’s victory in the set with a score of 25-16 and ultimately claiming the match 3-1.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will look to get back in the win column when they take on their cross-town rivals, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. The second of their four-game homestand match is slated for Sunday, Dec 3 at the Tait McKenzie Centre. The first serve is set for 3:00 pm.
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