The Brock Badgers men’s volleyball team secured an impressive 3-2 win (25-13, 26-28, 25-18, 29-31, 15-10) over the York Lions on Saturday, November 4 in Toronto.
In the first set, the Badgers put their first point on the board on a kill from senior outside hitter Sauli Lianga. Fellow outside hitter Kylar Code notched an early ace gave the Badgers a 4-1 lead.
Whitby product and setter Grant Reddon picked up a kill off a strong rally that pushed Brock’s lead to 7-3.
The Badgers continued to dominate in the first, pushing their lead to 16-7 before York called a timeout.
Brock won the first set 25-13, clinching it on a Code kill. The Badgers’ offence hit at a .667 percentage, delivering an impressive 18 kills as compared to York’s four.
Third-year middle Jacob Ferland recorded a second-set ace that gave Brock a 6-4 lead.
York found themselves ahead in the second before a service error brought the Badgers within one. An attacking error from the Lions then drew the set score level.
A Devin Cooney ace helped Brock take a 20-19 lead, but it was York who walked away with a set win in extra points 28-26. Brock struggled attacking in the second, notching seven kills that was matched by seven errors.
An attacking error shortly after multiple service errors from York saw the Badgers take a commanding 17-12 lead in the third set.
A double block from Liam Strong and Lianga pushed Brock’s lead even further.
The Badgers took the set 25-18 after a York service error.
The Lions controlled the tempo early in the fourth set which prompted a Badgers timeout with the score 13-10 in favour of York.
Despite having a prime opportunity to increase their lead, an attack error from York tied the game at 15-15.
Brock looked poised to close out the game in the fourth set but York stormed back in extra points once again, winning 31-28.
The fifth set saw York give up four straight errors, putting Brock in front with a 6-3 lead.
A massive block from Code gave the Badgers an all-important 10-7 lead. Code also closed out the game for Brock, with a spike that the York Lions were unable to control, winning the set for the Badgers 15-10.
Cooney led the way for Brock with 14 kills, with Code not far behind with 13. Reddon impressed on the day, recording a game-high 40 assists. The leader in digs for the Badgers was Code with 7.
Up next, the Brock Badgers (1-0) play their second of two games against the York Lions (0-1) in Toronto on Sunday, November 5 at 3 p.m. You can catch the action on OUA.tv.