Lancers drop pair of games to Warriors on opening weekend

In their opening weekend of the 2022-23 season, the Lancer women’s volleyball team lost a pair of home games to the visiting Waterloo Warriors at the Toldo Lancer Centre.
 
On Friday, the women fell in three sets 3-0 (20-25, 22-25, 18-25), and on Saturday 3-1 (22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-25).
 
FRIDAY
Windsor struggled to find their grove throughout the game. The Warriors built a 4-0 lead before the Lancers were able to get on the board. Down 9-4, the Lancers began to chip away at the Warrior lead and make it a one-point game, 10-9. It was anyone’s game for the next few points until the Warriors again started to break away from the blue and gold. Windsor found themselves down by five, yet despite some good plays in the back half of the set, they lost the round 25-20.
 
The second set started much tighter, as the teams traded points back and forth for the first fourteen points. Tied 7-7, the Lancers finally broke away and built a 17-11 lead. The visitors would not give up and battled their way back, taking the lead 21-18. Windsor tied the game at 21, but the Warriors had a couple of kills to secure the win, 25-22.
 
The third set was similar to the second, with the two squads trading points. Tied at ten, the Warriors broke free and went on to win the set 25-18.
 
Sophomore Emma Shephard led the blue and gold with 8 kills and 10 pints, while Nicole Woelk had 11 digs. 

Waterloo was led by Sarah Glynn with 20.5 points, and Claire Gagne with 33 assists. 
 
SATURDAY
Down 5-1 early in the first set, the Lancers came back to take a 13-10 lead midway through the set. Waterloo clawed their way back into the game and the teams then traded points right up until the end when the Warriors squeaked out a 25-22 win.
 
The Lancer went down 3-1 early in the second set and trailed for the entire set. The hosts tied the game at 20-20, but three attack errors by the Lancers helped pull the Warriors ahead and take the second set 25-21.
 
Windsor dominated the third set, taking a 7-1 lead and never looking back. Waterloo made it a four point game late in the set, 23-19, but the Lancers rallied and took the frame, 25-20.
 
In the fourth, the teams continued to trade points similar to the first two sets. With the Warriors up 10-9, the guests took control of the court and broke away from the blue and gold. Windsor called a time out with the Warriors leading 18-12, but they were unable to mount a comeback and eventually lost the set 25-15.

Emma Shephard and Aliah Admans each had a team high 10 kills, and also led the Lancers defensively with 14 and 11 digs, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
Windsor will remain home again next weekend and host the Trent Excalibur for a weekend doubleheader. Game one is set for Saturday, November 12th at 2:00pm at the Toldo Lancer Centre. Fans can get their tickets in advance at goLancers.ca/tickets.