The York University Lions men’s volleyball team put on a show for the fans at Tait McKenzie Centre on Saturday night with a fantastic performance in the second half of their back-to-back with the Western Mustangs, York lost the first set 25-16 to Western, but won the next three sets, 25-23, 25-15 and 27-25. That was thanks in large part to incredible nights from Andrew Tauhid and Josh Fadare and all around great team performance which helped York keep their composure and go on to win the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
York got behind the eight ball early after Western took an eight-point lead in the first set. The deficit remained for the rest of the first set. York showed some fight late in the set, but were unable to complete a comeback due to the Mustang’s stellar defending.
The second set saw York win 25-23 after a tightly-fought frame. Dennis Cota put on a tremendous defensive display for the Lions, with Josh Fadare and Andrew Tauhid getting several kills to put the Mustangs under pressure. Tauhid eventually gave York the set after a nervy end to the set. That tied the match at 1-1.
The Lions kept the momentum going in the third set with Tauhid and Fadare performing excellently for York and Alex Dorling getting several clutch blocks to keep York in the lead. York amassed a 9 point lead in the set and eventually won it by a score of 25-15.
The fourth set was a rollercoaster of emotion, with York taking a 6 point lead and eventually having that lead erased. The set went long, and with the Lions up 26-25, Dorling got the eventual winner off a muffed return. That gave the Lions the set 27-25 and the match 3-1.
The Lions improve to 4-1 on the young season with the win, with their only loss coming to the Toronto Varsity Blues in that epic four-setter.
LOOKING AHEAD:
York is back in action Friday night at the Goldring Centre to face The Toronto Varsity Blues at 8:00 pm. They then head to Guelph the following night to take on the Gryphons at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre, also at 8:00 pm. Both games are available on OUA.tv