Coming off a convincing three-set victory over the Royal Military College of Canada Paladins the night before, the York Lions’ women’s volleyball team welcomed the Queen’s Gaels to the Tait McKenzie Centre on January 26 for what turned out to be a war on the court.
After taking the first set by just four points, the Lions’ inconsistent play allowed the Gaels to triumph in the next three sets to walk away with a massive 3-1 win over York.
Queen’s entered the game desperate for a victory with their playoff lives still swinging in the balance, while the Lions looked to capitalize on a rare Ottawa Gee-Gees loss from earlier in the week.
With a win, the Lions would have found themselves in sole possession of first place in the Ontario University Athletics East standings. Instead, they found themselves in a three-way tie with Ottawa and Toronto for top spot after the loss. Lions’ Head Coach Nick Tran says he knew they were facing a hungry squad.
“We knew coming in it would be a tough game. Queen’s is very desperate right now, and they played like that. I feel like they wanted the game more, they fought for every point, and they executed their game plan very well.”
Things started off well for York in the first set as they jumped out to an early lead. A massive nine-point run was capped off with a beautiful block by Brittney Hopley, putting them ahead 12-3 early in the set.
The Gaels displayed some of the heart that would eventually lead to their victory, pulling together an impressive 8-2 run that brought the score to just 14-11 in the Lions’ favour. York would eventually settle for a 25-21 first-set victory after holding off another surge from the Gaels late in the set.
Although the Lions held back the Gaels in the first set, the second set took a completely different direction. Queen’s quickly bombarded their opponents with a furious attack, leaving the Lions confused as they found themselves down 5-0.
After responding with a great rally to bring the score to 5-1, the Lions regained form and answered with a five-point run of their own, leaving the set tied at 5-5. Neither team wanted to give up an inch the rest of the way, with the score being tied at 12 different points down the stretch.
Eventually the scales would tip in the Gaels’ favour 26-24, tying the match at one set apiece.
The heated exchange continued into the third set when York jumped out to a big 9-2 lead. However, once again, the Gaels battled back to make the set interesting. Both teams went back and forth with massives smashes that led to a 25-25 deadlock, but it would once again be the Gaels who prevailed 30-28 after a York net violation cost them the set.
The Lions looked all but defeated in the fourth and final set after two deflating late-set rallies cost them. The Gaels jumped out early in the set and never looked back on their way to a 25-14 set victory, and 3-1 match win.
York middle, Hopley, says the team needs to regain its mojo after the tough loss.
“I feel like we need to get our momentum back,” Hopleys explains. “I find that when we go on runs, we play more as a team and we trust in each other. If we just maintained the momentum and kept the ball in our possession, I feel like the result would have been different.”
The Lions must now turn their attention to securing sole possession of first place in the OUA East standings. York hits the court again on February 1 against the Western Mustangs in London, Ontario.
Ryan McCabe
Sports and Health Editor
