The York University Lions men's volleyball team lost 3-1 to the visiting Queen's Gaels at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Saturday (Nov. 29).
The Gaels won the first two sets by matching 25-21 scores. The Lions pulled one back at the third with a tight game at 25-23. The Gaels responded with an emphatic 25-15 win at the fourth set for a road win.
Ray Szeto (Sutton, Ont.) scored the opening point of the game with a deadly spike. However, the Gaels were able to take the early lead at 6-3 before the first timeout.
Gaels' Mike Tomlinson provided dangerous serves that momentarily stunned the Lions. Tomlinson ended the game with three service aces. The Gaels led 16-8 by the first set timeout.
Josh Henderson (Scarborough, Ont.) subbed in and contributed three points through two kills and a block. The Lions were outplayed as the Gaels retained their lead until the end of the set.
Szeto made an impressive save from a ball that was landing towards the bench. He played the ball back to the Lions' court and eventually gained a point through an attacking error by the Gaels at 6-4.
The Gaels were able to equalize at 8-8 and eventually took the lead at 16-12 before the timeout through a series of mistakes by the Lions. The visitors won the second set with an organized tactical play.
Rookie middle blocker
Arthur Swarcz (Toronto) hit an outstanding spinning spike from a set by
Nikola Sandic (Etobicoke, Ont.) at 3-2. Hasty kill attempts by the Gaels cost them the lead as Sandic made a service ace to give the Lions the lead at 13-10 before the timeout.
Both teams remained equally matched, but the Lions came out as winners of the set.
The Lions were outclassed by the Gaels as defensive errors caused the Lions to trail in the fourth.
After recording 13 kills, 10 digs and a service ace, Szeto subbed out for rookie outside hitter
Tyler Covach (Kitchener, Ont.). Covach ended with two kills.
The Gaels' leading scorer was Philippe Goyer with 19 points, all on kills.
The Lions holds a record of 5-4 and stand at sixth place in the OUA standings with 10 points. They will face the RMC Paladins on Sunday (Nov. 30) at Tait McKenzie Centre beginning at 4pm.
