They were down two sets to one, and the No. 5-seeded York University Lions women’s volleyball team rallied to win back-to-back sets over the No. 4-seeded McMaster Marauders, and score a huge upset 3-2 road victory in their OUA quarterfinal matchup.
The win is York’s first playoff win since a conference semifinal triumph over the Toronto Varsity Blues on Feb. 22, 2013. That postseason, the Lions dropped a five-set thriller to the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the OUA championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED
York took the first set by 10 points, winning 25-15 through clutch play from Jessica Reynolds and Olivia Kim. Reynolds had the highlight of the set, with a powerful cross-court kill after a 37 second-long rally in the middle stages of the frame.
The Lions then dropped the next two sets, and found themselves in a must-win scenario in the third set.
After earning the victory, the Lions battled back and forth with the Marauders in the fifth and deciding set, until they earned a match point with the score at 15-14 Lions. Reynolds came up with a block that was mishandled by a Marauder, sealing the upset victory.
Alisa Trubyuk had the best performance of the game statistically for the Lions, with the second-year outside hitter scoring 19 points for a team-lead.
After suffering an injury in the final weekend of the season, Olivia Kim returned to the lineup and contributed nine points, including an ace, in a gutsy effort from the team’s regular-season leader in kills.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Lions now advance to the OUA semifinal, and will play for the right to compete for the Quigley Cup against the No. 1-seeded and No. 2 nationally ranked Brock Badgers. The game is scheduled for Bob Davis Gymnasium, and will be played on Saturday, Mar. 4.
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