The York University Lions women’s volleyball team took on the RMC Paladins on Saturday afternoon, looking for the fourth consecutive victory.
After dispatching the Paladins in four sets on Friday evening, York was able to do likewise in this one, holding off a resilient RMC squad to earn its fifth win of the season.
Coming off her York female athlete of the week last week, Alisa Trubyuk co-lead her club with 14 kills (tied with Amaria Endes). Madison Shanks also had a solid offensive performance with 10 kills, her highest total since the opening weekend of the season. Veteran Jessica Reynolds was spectacular defensively, racking up 24 digs in the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The early portions of the opening set were tightly-contested, with the score tied 4-4 through eight points. The Lions, thereafter, went on a 7-1 run to grab an 11-5 lead. That spark was the catalyst to what was a dominant opening set from the visitors, who took it 25-16 to go up 1-0.
The second saw the Paladins hang right with the Lions, leading 7-5 through 12 points. The hosts led 15-9 midway through the set, spurring a timeout from Lions head coach Jen Neilson. Whatever message Neilson gave in that timeout was heeded by her club, which scored the next six points to tie it at 15 and force RMC to burn a timeout of its own. The set eventually needed extra points, and the Lions took it 27-25 to grab a 2-0 lead.
The third set mirrored the second in many facets, with neither team giving much of an edge. Neither club led by more than three until the late stages of the set when RMC took a 23-19 advantage. The Lions then went down 24-20 before scoring three straight points to draw back within one, but the Paladins finished it off on the fourth set point, 25-23 to get back in the match and force a fourth set, down 2-1.
The Paladins looked well on their way to sending it to a fifth set, taking an early 4-1 lead in the fourth. However, the Lions turned the tables by scoring five straight to lead 6-4. After the Lions went up by four, the Paladins responded to tie the game at 11, before scoring seven of the next nine to take an 18-13 lead. However, from there, it was all Lions. They finished the match on a 12-2 run to win the fourth set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Next up for York is a pair of critical matches for the Lions as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive. They will take on the Windsor Lancers twice next weekend, who are directly ahead of York in the OUA standings, needing to win twice and get some help from Nipissing to stay in the postseason picture. The matches next Friday and Saturday from Windsor will both begin at 6:00 pm.