AROUND OUA: Sweep completes perfect weekend for Lakers

SCOREBOARD

Queen's 0 @ Nipissing 3

Trent 0 @ Toronto 3

RMC 1 @ York 3

Sweep completes perfect weekend for Lakers

The perfect way to cap off a perfect weekend is to do it in style.

The Nipissing Lakers men's volleyball team took care of business Saturday afternoon versus RMC, winning in three and they made it back-to-back sweeps Sunday, defeating the Queens Gaels in three sets.

The Lakers, who have been on fire to start the season, are 5-1 through the first semester, good for the best winning percentage in the East Division.

They have only lost three total sets this season so far and have really taken a step in the right direction.

Their latest victory came in impression fashion, as the Lakers swept Queens, winning 25-17, 25-18 and 25-19.

The Lakers grabbed an early lead, but really pulled away around the midway point of the set, as they took a 12-5 lead and extended that to 20-12 before finishing it off in style.

It was almost the same story in the second, as the Lakers grabbed control of the game at the technical timeout, as they led 16-9 and cruised to the 25-18 victory.

In the third, Nipissing made sure they weren't going to allow Queens back into the match, although the Gaels did fight back, leading early.

The Gaels were up 9-7 and the match was tied 15-15 before the Lakers pulled away.

They grabbed a lead and pushed it to 22-17 and kept the Gaels at a comfortable distance away, sealing the match with a 25-19 win.

Steve Wood had 11 kills to lead the way, Warren Taylor had 10 and Jack Peckham chipped in with six kills and 12 points.

The Lakers improved to 5-1 on the season, which gives them the highest winning percentage in the East Division as they head into the exam and Christmas break.

They will be back on the court in January to resume the 2016-17 season.

Source: Nipissing Lakers

Blues blank Excalibur on home court

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's volleyball defeated the Trent Excalibur 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-17) on Sunday, November 27 at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
 
The win improves U of T to 3-4 heading into the December exam break.
 
Blues veteran Will Colucci lead both teams with 14 points from 13 kills and one ace, while also adding five digs on the day.
 
U of T's rookie Nicholas Trewern posted 13 points from 12 kills and one ace. His fellow rookie Jordan Figueira had 33 assists and 4 digs in the win.
 
Leading in points for Trent was Griffin Williams with eight points from five kills, one ace, and two blocks.
 
The Varsity Blues resume regular season play in the New Year as they travel to North Bay on January 20 to take on the Nipissing Lakers. Game time is set for 8 p.m.

Source: Toronto Varsity Blues

Lions win fifth straight with victory over RMC

The York University Lions men's volleyball team won its fifth straight match on Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over the RMC Paladins at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Lions' recent streak has moved them into a three-way tie for second place in the OUA East standings with 10 points and they will carry their 5-2 record into the long December break.
 
The Lions won the first set with ease, taking it 25-15, but the Paladins put up some resistance in the second before the Lions finally put it away at 25-23 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The Paladins finally were rewarded for their strong play in the third set as they jumped ahead early and held on to take it 25-20 and push the match further. However, the Lions rebounded in the fourth set in a big way, dominating from start to finish to win 25-14 and claim the match.
 
Alex Duncan-Thibault (Scarborough, Ont.) continued his torrid scoring pace with his third straight match recording at least 20 points, putting up 21.5 on 15 kills, four service aces and 2.5 blocks, and he also added seven digs.
 
Also having a big afternoon was Spencer Kingzett (Penticton, B.C.) with 17 points on 16 kills and one block. Logan Mend (Naramata, B.C.) recorded 46 assists and Jules Muhawe (Orleans, Ont.) had 16 digs.
 
Dale Towe led all Paladins in scoring with 20 points on 19 kills and one block.
 
The Lions are now off until the new year and will return to OUA action on Saturday, Jan. 14 when they welcome the Ryerson Rams to the Tait McKenzie Centre. Prior to that, they will host the annual Excalibur Classic Jan. 5-8

Source: York Lions