AROUND OUA: Lions hammer past No. 2 Marauders 3-1 in thrilling upset

SCOREBOARD

McMaster 1 @ York 3

Windsor 0 @ Ryerson 3

Guelph 2 @ Nipissing 3

Lions hammer past No. 2 Marauders 3-1 in thrilling upset

The York University men's volleyball team finished their regular season with a gripping 3-1 victory over the No. 2 McMaster Marauders (17-2) at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Friday night (Feb. 19).
 
The Lions started the game with a fantastic first set. Tim Jensen (Hamilton, Ont.) and Spencer Kingzett (Penticton, B.C.) dominated along the flanks of the court while Arthur Szwarc (Toronto) and Logan Mend (Naramata, B.C.) were an unstoppable team from the middle.
 
Jules Muhawe (Orleans, Ont.) also made an athletic dive to keep the ball in play and set up Mend and Szwarc midway through the action. He was credited with an assist for his efforts. The Lions kept a comfortable lead throughout the set and ended up with 1-0 lead winning by a score of 25-18.
 
The second set was tight with with non-stop action throughout. Alexander Duncan-Thibault (Scarborough, Ont.) and Tyler Covach (Kitchener, Ont.) played pivotal roles throughout the set and their impacts were noticeable along the offensive line. The set ended in a narrow 25-23 win for the Lions.
 
It was another nail biter in the third set as both teams were neck and neck for points. The Lions continued to play hard, but after the Marauders broke away with a timely three-point lead near the end of the set, the boys didn't have enough time to close the score. The set finished in a 25-23 Marauders victory.
 
With a 2-1 score heading into the third intermission, the Lions were eager to end the game in the fourth set. Thanks to a steady eight-point lead that was maintained throughout the set, the Lions came out on top with a 25-16 score that gave them the 3-1 victory.
 
Every one of the Lions played an exquisite game, in what may have been the team's most complete performance all season. Covach put up 13.5 points with 11 kills and one service ace, Kingzett put up 10.5 points with 10 kills. Although Muhawe didn't have any points to his name, he came up with some game-changing defensive digs to keep the team alive. Offensively, Mend supported the team with 42 assists.
 
Szwarc was impeccable on the front line and racked up an impressive stat total, finishing the game with 25 points, 18 kills, two service aces, and eight blocks.
 
For McMaster, Peter Khodkevych led his team with 16.5 points, Connor Santoni followed with 14 points, and Matthew Passalent had 13 points.
 
With the win, combined with a Windsor loss to Ryerson, the Lions clinched a spot in the 2016 playoffs, while the Marauders, despite two losses to close out the regular season finish in first place in the OUA Standings and will have a bye to the OUA's Final Four.
 
The Lions will find out their playoff schedule and opponent once the season concludes on Sunday (Feb. 21).

Source: York Lions

Dawson shines in win over Lancers

TORONTO – An efficient attacking game led the Ryerson Rams men's volleyball team back into the win column with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-17) sweep over the Windsor Lancers on Friday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

BOXSCORE

Alex Dawson (Scarborough, Ont.) had one of his best performances of the season with a game-high 13 kills and eight digs. Lucas Coleman (Brooklin, Ont.) and Robert Wojcik (Whitby, Ont.) each added 11 kills in the victory.

Ryerson came out strong and quickly forced the Lancers into using both their timeouts before the technical timeout. The Rams built a 16-12 advantage once the break hit, and the home side cruised from there for a 25-17 opening set win.

The Rams used a 50.0% hitting percentage in the second set to emerge victors in a tighter frame. Ryerson hit for 18 kills to seal a 25-23 victory to take a 2-0 match lead.

In the third, Ryerson continued to hit well and added another 17 kills to just eight from the Lancers. The Rams got off to a 9-3 lead and extended that to 16-9 at the technical timeout. In prime position to finish the sweep, the Rams closed the match on a kill from Uchenna Ofoha (Markham, Ont.) to take a 25-17 set win and 3-0 victory.

The Rams hit an impressive 42.7% for the night and held the Lancers to just a 15.9% hitting percentage.

"It's always fun to play well…we were more fired up to get a win (tonight), coming out of a losing streak. Everyone came out really excited and I just tried, more so than usual, to follow the game plan," said Dawson on his personal success on Friday.

With the win the Rams improve to 13-6 on the season and remain in third place in the OUA standings. Windsor drops to 7-12 on the year and out of playoff contention.

Ryerson closes out the regular season on Saturday night when they host the Western Mustangs starting at 8:00 p.m. on Senior Night.

Source: Ryerson Rams

Lakers grind out five-set victory

It was a game they needed to win and not only did they pick up the necessary victory, but they did it in entertaining style.

The Nipissing Lakers men's volleyball team halted their mini slump with an emphatic victory over the Guelph Gryphons Friday night at the RJS Athletic Centre.

The Lakers staved off elimination in the fourth set on their way to a convincing victory in the fifth set a 3-2 triumph over the Gryphons.

The Gryphons held a 1-0 and 2-1 lead, but the Lakers fought back, tying the match twice, eventually dominating the final set to claim the win.

In the first set, it was back and forth for much of the time, but in the end, the Gryphons were able to pull away and escape with a 25-21 win to start things off.

Nipissing sent a message in the second set, rebounding in a big way and coming up with a 25-19 win to even the match up.

The momentum swing seemed to go the Lakers way, as they looked to grab the advantage in the third set, but it was the Gryphons who once again jumped out ahead, earning a 25-23 win to go up 2-1 as they looked to wrap things up.

In another tight set, it was the Lakers who showed a lot of heart as they grabbed a 25-23 win to tie the match once again and extend things to a fifth and deciding set.

In forcing a fifth set, it was the ninth time this season – including exhibition play – that Nipissing has gone the distance.

In the fifth set, riding high off the fourth set victory, Nipissing dominated.

The Lakers grabbed a 4-1 lead, extended it to 8-3 as they cruised to a 15-6 win and a victory in the match.

The key in the fifth set was the blocking ability of the Lakers, especially middles Warren Taylor and Steve Wood, although everyone stepped up their game in the fourth and fifth set.

Cam Branch had another impressive match, recording 25 kills.

He was joined by Lyndon Sonego who had nine kills and Steve Wood who slammed home six.

Unfortunately the playoffs are no long an option for Nipissing, as they received bad news from the York Lions, who needed to lose their final match.

Instead, the Lions upset the Marauders to claim the final playoff position.

Regardless, Nipissing will now look to finish the season on a high note as they conclude the regular season with a matchup against the top ranked McMaster Marauders, who are 17-2, but on a two matching losing streak.

The match is set for 8 p.m. at the RJS Athletic Centre

Source: Nipissing Lakers