The York University Lions men’s volleyball team embarked on a road trip to face off against the Queen’s Gaels. The team was determined to kickstart a winning streak following a challenging victory in the weekend split with the Waterloo Warriors last week. Eager to secure their second victory of 2024 and their third win of the overall season, the Lions set their sights on a triumphant performance against the Gaels.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Martin Prinsloo initiated the set by scoring the first kill of the game. As each team took turns leading, Aidan Labossiere evened with the guests at 9-9. However, the Gaels pulled ahead, eventually gaining a 5-point lead. Alexander Ko made a commendable effort with a phenomenal kill at 14-12, still in the hosts’ favour, followed by another by Dan Lafleur, narrowing the gap to 17-14. The set concluded 25-20, with Queen’s taking the lead 1-0 overall.
The second set kicked off with a powerful kill by Lafleur, quickly followed by another to bring the Lions to a 3-3 tie. From there, the Lions seemed to be trailing just one point below the Gaels until a crucial kill by Prinsloo at 8-8, signaling a positive turn for the Lions. Dorling and Lafleur contributed to a 4-point streak, giving York the upper hand. Thanks to Labossiere, York held a 2-point lead at 14-12, and they maintained that advantage with another kill from Prinsloo, extending the lead to 19-15 and prompting Queens to call a timeout. The teams tie up at 21, pushing York to call a timeout at 24-23 in favour of the Gaels. Queens secured the win, clinching the closely contested set 25-23 and leading 2-0 overall.
The final set witnessed the Lions making one last push for a comeback. Lafleur initiated a strong start, putting the Lions ahead at 3-1 with a 2-point lead. Unfortunately, the game continued to sway in favour of Queens, who ultimately sealed the match, with Reed Venning delivering the final kill. The set concluded 25-17, resulting in a 3-0 victory for the hosts in the overall match.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions seek redemption in a swift turnaround tomorrow, looking to bounce back in a weekend split with the Gaels. The first serve flies at 8:00p.m.