All-Canadian Szeto powers York to consolation semifinal victory over Waterloo at CIS men’s volleyball championship

Photo credit Josh Schaefer Photography

SASKATOON (CIS) – Three-time All-Canadian Ray Szeto powered the No. 7 seeded York University Lions to a 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 23-25, 16-14) consolation semifinal victory over Ontario-rival the University of Waterloo Warriors with 26 kills Friday afternoon in the first consolation semifinal match at the CIS Men's Volleyball Championship hosted by the University of Saskatchewan at the Physical Activity Complex.

Post-game coaches interview

The outside hitter was dominant in the match tallying six kills in the first set, another six in the second, four in the third, six in the fourth and four in the deciding set. He added three digs and two assisted blocks in the match.

With the win, York advances to Saturday's consolation final, where they will meet the winner of Saskatchewan and Laval in a battle for fifth place. The win provided revenge for York after a loss in last weekend's OUA semifinal to the Warriors. York had won the first set of the match before Waterloo jumped to a comeback winning the next three sets.

"The match was a hard fought match we lost our starting setter our captain Nick Sandovic and a rookie Logan Mend came in and provided a spark off the bench especially with serves late in the game," said York head coach Mike Chumbley. "Waterloo had our number all year long with their system play and coaching style. We just had a really tough time managing their middles throughout the whole year. This is actually only the second time in six matchups we've had success."

Tied at nine in the first set, York began to break away after a back row attack from CIS Rookie of the Year Josh Henderson. An error by Waterloo and a service ace from Nikola Sandic forced the Warriors to take a timeout down 12-9. Waterloo was returned the ball on a York attack that sailed long, but couldn't keep it. Szeto returned the ball to his team and helped the Lions on a 6-2 run for an 18-12 lead. Waterloo couldn't recover and York won the set 25-21.

Waterloo broke away after a York service error returned the ball to the Warriors and took a 19-17 lead. York was able to get within one at 22-21 with a Marko Dakic attack, but Aidan Simone led the Warriors to the 25-22 win with a block and a kill.

Tied at 11, York started to break away with two kills that the Warriors couldn't block forcing Waterloo to a timeout. Although the Warriors scored the point coming out of the timeout, York continued to keep control of the set growing a large 21-14 lead. The Warriors started a bid for a comeback halting the Lions at 23-16, but after a miss by Waterloo and a big block by Henderson York won 25-16.

Trading points back and forth in the fourth set, Waterloo capitalized on York errors to take a 22-18 lead. The Warriors led 23-18 before the Lions made a bid for a comeback to win the set pulling within two at 23-21. Waterloo took a timeout to regroup but York continued the comeback push at 23-22. Simone put his team at set point. A York block by Mend and Arthur Scwarcz held the Warriors at set point, but on the next play a Zachary Doherty kill that the Lions couldn't block forced a fifth and final set with the 25-23 win.

Waterloo took a 5-3 to start the deciding set forcing York to a timeout. The Warriors continued to seemingly roll to the win growing a 12-7 lead. After a Waterloo service ace, a Szeto kill started the Lions on a six point run to take a 13-12 lead. Waterloo tied the set again at 14, but York's Dakic and an error by the Warriors gave Waterloo the 16-14 win.

"Unfortunately, we did not play very well," said Waterloo head coach Chris Lawson. "Probably our worst two matches of the year were here at this tournament. But that's a result of being extremely young. At points, we had five second-year athletes on the floor. No one in our program has been in a CIS championship. We started baby steps and each year we are getting a little better. I was just talking to the guys it's not hard to go to poor to OK. It's a little tougher to go from OK to good. And it's very difficult to go from good to exceptional. That's a hurdle we have to get over now. Finding a way to perform in big games and it's what we need to do to move from good to exceptional."

Simone was impressive in the loss for Waterloo recording 20 kills, two service aces, eight digs and four assisted blocks.

 
STAT LEADERS
 
York
Kills: Ray Szeto (26), Arthur Swarcz (15)
Points: Ray Szeto (28)
Blocks: Arthur Swarcz (5)
Digs: Jules Muhawe (16)
Service aces: Josh Henderson (3)
 
Player of the match: Arthur Swarcz
 
Waterloo
Kills: Aidan Simone (20), Zachary Doherty (15)
Points: Aidan Simone (24)
Blocks: Jordan McConkey (5)
Digs: Cam Kapteyn (13)
Service aces: Aaron Wiersma, Aidan Simone (2)

Player of the match: Aidan Simone
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times CENTRAL TIME)
 
Thursday, February 26
13:00 Quarter-final #1: Dalhousie 3, York 2 (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 16-25, 15-13)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: Alberta 3, Waterloo 0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-22)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: Trinity Western 3, Laval 0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-19)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: McMaster 3, Saskatchewan 0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-18)
 
Friday, February 27
13:00 Consolation #1: York 3, Waterloo 2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 23-25, 16-14)
15:00 Consolation #2: No. 4 Laval vs. No. 8 Saskatchewan (www.CIS-SIC.tv)  
18:00 Semifinal #1: No. 3 Alberta vs. No. 2 Dalhousie (www.CIS-SIC.tv)  
20:00 Semifinal #2: No. 5 Trinity Western vs. No. 1 McMaster (www.CIS-SIC.tv)  
 
Saturday, February 28
14:00 5th place: No. 7 York vs No. 4 Laval or No. 8 Saskatchewan (www.CIS-SIC.tv)  
16:00 Bronze medal (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
19:00 Championship final (www.CIS-SIC.tv)