LIONS GO THE DISTANCE WITH LANCERS, DROP SECOND STRAIGHT MATCH IN WINDSOR

Another night, another competitive match between the York University Lions volleyball team and the Windsor Lancers.

The two teams reconvened on Saturday night, 24 hours after what went down as a sweep for Windsor, but was, in reality, a tight, spirited affair throughout. The Lancers took the three sets by scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-21.

On this night, the parity between the two parties played its way out on the scoreboard as well, as the Lions and Lancers took this one to the max in what was the penultimate game of the season for York.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Amarai Endes got the scoring started for York with three consecutive kills. The Lions went up 4-1 early thanks in large part to Endes, but the Lancers battled back to tie at four. York then went up 13-10 before Windsor reeled off six straight points to take a three-point lead of their own. York eventually battled back and had set point, up 24-22, but the Lancers scored five of the set’s final six points, and ultimately took it in extras, 27-25.
• The next two sets were essentially all York. They took a quick 5-2 lead in the second thanks to two aces from setter Megan McDonald and a pair of kills from Julia Typa. That lead eventually ballooned to 17-10, and the Lions didn’t look back, scoring the final four points of the second and winning convincingly, 25-14 to tie the match 1-1 and necessitate at least four sets.
• The third saw York continue to pounce on the Lancers, with Endes, Typa, Madison Shanks and Victoria Herrington all posting kills to propel the visitors to a 10-3 lead. The visitors led by as many as 11 in the third set as they cruised to a 25-18 win and a 2-1 lead.
• In the fourth, however, Windsor responded. Despite York being up 17-14 late in the set and poised to split the weekend, the home side had other plans. The Lancers scored seven of the next nine points to take a 21-19 lead, and went on to force a fifth and deciding set with a 25-22 win.
• In that fifth, the Lancers built off the momentum they gained in the fourth, jumping out to a quick 5-2 lead. Though York drew within two later in the set, Windsor won the race to 15 with a 15-11 victory to take the match in five sets.
• Endes led the Lions in kills with 16, with Madison Shanks trailing closely behind with 15. Defensively, libero Jessica Reynolds led the way with 19 digs, while McDonald had a solid night with 14.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions wrap up the 2023-24 season on their home court on Friday night against the McMaster Marauders, who defeated them in five sets back on Nov. 11. The Lions will honour graduating players Alisa Trubyuk, Jordan Sealock, Brooklyn Parliament and Jessica Reynolds in a pregame ceremony. First serve flies at 6:00 pm.