Zain Rashid | Staff Writer
Featured Image: The Lions men won their last two games of the regular season. | Courtesy of YorkU Lions
York’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams played U of T and Trent over the weekend, their last games of the regular season. The women’s team lost their first game against the Blues and won the second fixture against Trent. The men’s team won both of their games in dominant fashion.
The women’s team went across town on Friday to play against one of their fiercest rivals, the U of T Varsity Blues.
With a 12-5 record for the season compared to York’s 7-10, the Varsity Blues had an upper hand going into the game. Clearly, that psychological edge helped the Blues, as they won the game 3-0.
The Blues dominated the game from the start and gained a 1-0 lead after winning the first set 25-19.
York responded in the second set as they led the Blues 16-10 at the mid-break point. However, the Lions soon lost that lead as the Blues came from behind and scored eight consecutive points, en route to the 25-20 score for the set.
The last set was no different as the Blues, once again, were the first team to reach 25 points, holding York to just 16, in the 3-0 win.
The men also played the Blues on the same day, and, despite having a 6-10 record for the season compared to U of T’s 11-5, won the game comfortably.
The Blues opened the game aggressively and, by the halfway point, led the Lions 16-7. They won the first set 25-18.
However, that was to be the only high point for the Blues in the entire game as the Lions turned the tables in the second set.
After displaying amazing teamwork and effort, York won the second by a close margin of 25-23.
The third and the fourth sets were also won by a score of 25-23 as the Lions led the Blues at every single mid-set break.
Andrew Tauhid led the Lions by scoring 18 points, followed by Tyler Covach who recorded 15.
The women’s team travelled to Peterborough for their last game of the regular season and played Trent on Saturday.
York started the game on the right foot, and, after brilliant tactical play, ended the first set 25-16.
The second proved to be a closer contest in which Trent came out on top with a mere, two-point difference, ending the set 26-24.
With the game level at one set a side, both teams went into the third expecting to dominate the other. However, it was York who came out on top and won the set 25-20.
In the fourth, York had the chance to close out the game, but Trent refused to go quietly, and won the set 25-18, sending the match into a fifth and final set. Thankfully, however, it was the Lions that won the decisive set 15-8 and won the game 3-2.
York’s Celeste Witzell led the team with 16.5 points followed by Olivia Kim who scored 15.
The Lions men played Trent next on the same day, also for their last game, and defeated them 3-1.
York led Trent throughout most of the first set and ended it with a comfortable score of 25-19. The Lions were unable to carry this momentum in the second set, however, as Trent made a comeback and clenched a 25-22 win.
The third set witnessed York put on a brilliant performance that allowed them to regain their lead and win the set 25-18.
The Lions also proved too much for Trent in the fourth set, winning 18-25 and defeating the Lions 3-1.
York’s Andrew Shotbolt led the score sheet with 18 points.
York’s volleyball teams compete in the OUA playoffs next week. On Saturday, the men will take on McMaster at 7 p.m., while the women play Waterloo at 6 p.m.
