Kristina Vlcek
contributor
“Bloodthirsty” is the only way to describe the atmosphere October 21 at Tait Mackenzie. The reigning OUA silver medalist, the Western Mustangs, had the audacity to try to steal the Lions’ first win. The Lions’ opposition echoed off the walls with screams and shouts.
Right from the beginning the war was even on both sides. The Lions delivered the first blow, starting off with the lead in the first set, thwarting the Mustangs. Attacks hit the nets from both sides, but the Mustangs managed to win the first battle 15-25.
Nikola Sandic of the Lions took the helm, beginning the second set with an impressive kill, while middle Felipe Humaña-Paredes delivered covering fire. Western came right back, with players Matthew Gibson and Phil James sending the ball rocketing to the ground to bring their score up to 16-24. The Mustangs took the second set.
But the Lions battled back and drew Mustang blood, winning the third set 21-17. Humaña-Paredes carried the momentum of the charge, after Karim Khalil brought the Lions within two points.
The Lions saw the light of victory in the fourth set, while the Mustangs just wanted to finish their opponents. Giving up some points with a couple of clumsy plays, the Mustangs gave Lions fans hope. The Lions put up some great blocks, but the Mustangs continued throwing down powerful kills, creating a three point lead. They doubled that lead and finished the set at 19-25, winning the game 3-1.
“I think we just got complacent,” says Western’s Garret May, last year’s OUA rookie of the year. “Congratulations to the York team, they did a great job. They wanted it and played like it. […] I know we can play better; I would not go with good. We are going to take the win but we can definitely improve on for the next game.”
Karim Khalil, York’s captain, stays confident after the loss.
“I think we put up a pretty good fight against Western,” says Khalil. “I am still confident, I am sure everyone else is. I think we’re just getting better. […] We are still trying to figure out the little pieces but everyone can work on themselves to improve the group and we are going to come back a lot more confident tomorrow.”
The York team is young—only Humaña-Paredes and Khalil are fourth years. Fans can start to expect great things, as they are growing as a team and becoming much stronger. Their next game is the second of a back-to-back against Windsor at home.
