The York University Lions men’s volleyball team was in tough against their cross-town rivals. Despite putting forth a determined effort and giving their all, the Lions found themselves on the losing end of a four-set match on Saturday night at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
After dropping the initial two sets, the Lions rallied to claim the third, pushing the match to a fourth set. However, Toronto seized control in the fourth set, ultimately wearing down the Lions and securing the victory with a 3-1 match outcome.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was an even contest at 9-9, with the Lions going head-to-head with the Varsity Blues early on. The Blues faced difficulties coping with the Lions middle attacks. However, Toronto seized control in the later part of the set, winning it 25-22.
The dynamics of the second set mirrored the first, as both teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle to stay in contention. Unfortunately for the Lions, a series of attack and service errors proved to be detrimental, leading to their shortfall as they lost the set 25-19.
The Lions began with a promising lead at 12-7. Despite the Blues showcasing resilience and narrowing the gap to a one-point difference at 17-16, both teams grappled with service and attack errors. Nonetheless, the Lions managed to sneak away a 25-22 set victory, forcing a fourth set.
The fourth set unfolded as yet another closely contested chapter, with both teams maintaining a competitive balance and being deadlocked at 15. It was only in the latter part of the set that the Blues began to pull away en route to a 25-22 set victory.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will look to bounce back with a visit to Waterloo, when they take on the Waterloo Warriors on Friday, Jan. 12 in a weekend doubleheader. The action begins at 8:00 pm.