The York University Lions women’s volleyball team was dominant in their final game before the holiday break against the Trent Excalibur. They defeated Trent in straight sets on Saturday, meaning they have now won nine straight sets, and earned three consecutive straight-set victories.
York won the three sets by counts of 25-19, 25-14 and 25-19. Olivia Kim, reigning U SPORTS women’s volleyball athlete of the week, led her team in kills with 13 and Megan McDonald led in assists with 18. The final point of the match was scored by Amari Endes, who put a stop to a late comeback bid from Trent.
HOW IT HAPPENED
York controlled the first set early taking a 7-2 lead. After a pushback from Trent in which they scored 13 of the next 18 points to go up 15-12, York managed to score six straight points to take an 18-15 lead. After Trent closed it back to within one at 18-17, the Lions built up a four-pour point advantage, 21-17, and took the opening set 25-19.
After the Excalibur cut York’s second-set lead to 10-8, York responded by scoring 10 of the next 11 points to take an 11 point-lead, 20-9. The Lions maintained that lead, winning the second set 25-14 with an amazing double act from Kim and McDonald.
The Excalibur started the third set slowly, giving up the first three points of the set before eventually going down 9-3. Quincy Johnson and Brooklyn Parliament took up the attacking responsibility during the final set, with a brilliant moment coming from Parliament to give York a 10 point lead, 15-5, with an ace. The Lions led by as many as 11 in the third, 20-9. Trent went on a couple of four-point runs to keep the third set close, but Endes stepped up to end the game with a kill assisted by Natalie Lefaive. The final set ended 25-19.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions return to the court after the holiday season. The Lions will face the Queen’s Gaels on January 6th at 6:00pm at the Tait McKenzie Centre and again on the 7th, also at 6:00 pm.