MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE EFFORT FALLS JUST SHORT FOR LAKERS

Box Score Coming off a match where they had chances to take control, the Nipissing Lakers men’s volleyball team will be looking to bounce back.

Hosting the Brock Badgers for a second straight match and in search of a weekend split, the Lakers would need their best effort to get back into the win column.

They put in another impressive effort and hung with one of the league’s top teams, but fell just short, losing a thriller in five sets, 3-2.

To kick things off, the Lakers grabbed an early lead, but Brock stormed back and grabbed a 17-15 lead midway through the set.

Nipissing fought back to tie the game 19-19, but Brock managed to grab the lead once again, going up 22-20 before clinching the first set, 25-23.

In the second, Nipissing came out slow, trailing 12-9, but bounced back to take a 20-16 lead and picked up a 25-21 win to even the match at 1-1.

With the match tied 1-1, the third set would go a long way in determining who takes home the victory to close out the weekend.

The Lakers held a slight three point lead, 15-12, midway through the set, but Brock stormed back to take a 21-18 lead late, thanks to a 9-3 run.

The Badgers were able to put Nipissing away, sneaking out a 25-21 win to go up 2-1.

In a thrilling fourth set, Nipissing trailed 10-7 early and 15-14 midway through the game, but went on a run to grab a 20-18 lead.

From there, they closed things out, winning 25-22.

In the fifth, a race to 15, the Lakers trailed from the start and weren’t able to climb back.

Despite a push late, turning an 8-4 deficit into a one point set, Brock managed to stay ahead throughout the final set and came away with a 15-13 victory.

Justice Smith led the way with the Lakers with 13 kills, Tyrus Cuculick and Trent O’Brien each had 10 in the match.

The Lakers have a bye next weekend before hitting the road to take on TMU in Toronto on Jan. 26 and 27.