LIONS DOWNED AFTER PUSHING TOP-RANKED GRYPHONS TO FOUR SETS

The York University Lions women’s volleyball team was set to take on the undefeated Guelph Gryphons on home court at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Friday night. The Gryphons showed the same dominance they have thus far this season, and took the game 3-1. This loss brings the Lions record to 1-4 while improving the Gryphons undefeated streak to 5-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Gryphons started off on the right foot putting together an 11-2 run to kick off the opening set. The Lions, on the other hand, experienced a shaky start characterized by numerous service and attack errors, prompting an early timeout from York. Following the timeout, the Lions quickly responded and stopped the bleeding on an 11-2 run of their own to level the game at 13 apiece.     
• The remainder of the set saw both teams in a closely contested battle, however, it was the Lions who seized their first lead of the game on a Victoria Herrington kill at 21-20. Despite the efforts, attack errors once again proved costly for the Lions, as the visitors ice the set 25-23.    
• Both teams once again went neck-and-neck in the second set, with the game consistently hanging within a point or two for each side. Before long, the Lions surged ahead with an 8-1 run, establishing a 21-14 lead. From that moment onward, the set was never in doubt, and the Lions sealed the win 25-20.
• The Gryphons were on their heels but quickly gained a 12-6 advantage in the set. The Lions maintained their composure as they began to creep up to the Gryphons trimming the deficit to 18-17. That was as close as they would get, as the visitors took it 25-21 on a service ace.
• Once again, a 10-2 run established a favourable tone for the Gryphons. Despite the Lions making a slight dent in the lead to trim the deficit to 17-12, it proved insufficient, as the Gryphons regained their momentum en route to a 25-14 final-set victory. 

LOOKING AHEAD: 

The Lions will look to bounce back as they host the second of their five-game homestand against their cross-town rivals, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. The match is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 3 at the Tait McKenzie Centre with a 1:00 pm first serve.