LIONS RALLY FOR FIVE-SET VICTORY OVER RAMS

The York University Lions men’s volleyball team mounted a furious comeback after dropping the first two sets to defeat the Rams 3-2 at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Friday night.

The win was an important one in the OUA East standings for the Lions, who pulled ahead of the Rams at 2-4. The Rams fell to 1-6 with the lost.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set began as a back-and-forth affair until late in the set, when the Rams won four straight points to pull ahead 20-15. They maintained that lead to the end and took the first 25-19.
• The second played out in similar fashion, with the Rams again extending the advantage late. They went on to win the set 25-18.
• After trading points early, the Lions began pulling ahead in the middle of the set and had their first technical-timeout lead of the match at 16-11. They did not relinquish the big advantage and pulled to within a set with a 25-17 win.
• The Lions held the lead again at the technical timeout in the fourth set, at 16-12, but the Rams staged a mini comeback of their own to tie it at 19-19 and then take a one-point lead. But the Lions then scored five straight points to set up set point and then won 25-21.
• The Lions carried that momentum into the fifth, winning three straight points and extending the lead by as many as five points. The Rams tried one last comeback and nearly got there, pulling to within one on match point at 14-13. But a strong final point gave the home team the win.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• Andrew Tauhid led all players with 17 points on 16 kills and two assisted blocks. He also added four digs and four assists.
• Also reaching double digits in scoring was Martin Prinsloo with 11, on eight kills and three service aces.
• Jasraj Nijjar led the Lions with 34 assists and William Deschamps had a team-high nine digs.
• The Rams’ leading scorer was Jacob Walker with 17 points.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Lions will face the Rams again on Saturday night, facing off at the Mattamy Athletic Centre downtown Toronto in a match beginning at 8pm. They will return home next Friday to face the Trent Excalibur in their only game of the weekend.