LIONS DEFEATED IN FOUR SETS AGAINST TOP-RANKED GRYPHONS ON FRIDAY NIGHT

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.