First-set comeback headlines Badgers’ win over Nipissing

The Brock Badgers men’s volleyball team earned a 3-0 win (27-25, 25-21, 26-24) over the Nipissing Lakers on Friday, Jan. 12 in North Bay.  

Second-year hitter Devin Cooney led the Badgers in kills with 14, while Grant Reddon logged 33 assists and a season-high nine digs.

A strong start from the Lakers left Brock in a 6-1 hole until a kill from middle Liam Strong broke up Nipissing’s run. Multiple kills from Sauli Lianga and Cooney helped the Badgers cut the Lakers’ lead down to just three points. A massive kill from Jacob Ferland helped the Badgers stay in the set, making the scoreline 23-19 for Nipissing. Cooney recorded a set-saving kill, keeping the frame alive in extras as Brock pulled within two points of the Lakers. After taking the lead, Brock closed out a massive comeback on a kill from Lianga. 

Points were traded back and forth in the second set between the Lakers and Badgers until a service ace from Strong followed by an attack error from Nipissing gave Brock an 8-6 lead. The Badgers would go on a 6-1 run in the middle of the second set, including multiple kills from Lianga to make the score 20-14 for Brock. The Lakers mounted a short comeback before a service ace from Code put the second set to bed, with the Brock Badgers winning by a score of 25-21.

A string of service errors from Nipissing helped the Badgers stay level with the Lakers in the opening moments of the set. On the back of Kylar Code’s serving, the Lakers committed multiple attacking errors, giving the Badgers a 6-4 lead. A collective effort kept the Badgers in the driver’s seat to take the third set, including a kill from Reddon to make it 19-17 for Brock. The final set headed to extras, but Cooney notched back-to-back kills early, giving the Badgers a 26-24 win.  

Up next, the Brock Badgers men’s volleyball team (9-2) will face the Nipissing Lakers (2-9) for the second game of a weekend doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 13. You can find the game on OUA.tv.