No matter how tomorrow's match ends, the Nipissing Lakers women's volleyball team will have recorded their best season in the OUA.

Unfortunately, with their results tonight – a 3-0 loss to the Western Mustangs and a win by the York Lions – the Lakers will finish on the outside of the playoff picture.

The Lakers fought hard and kept things close with the powerful Mustangs, but in the end, they were unable to come away with a victory, losing 25-23, 25-21 and 25-18.

The win gives Western 15 on the season, as they sit tied for the lead in the West Division.

The first set went right down to the wire and was tied 19-19 before Western escaped with the win by just two points.

Western went up 22-20, which was a big enough cushion and a little too much for the Lakers to overcome.

The second set wasn't all that different, with the teams playing some really exciting and close volleyball, but a late push by Western was enough for the win.

The set was tied 18-18 and that's when Western went on a 7-3 run to pick up the victory and take control of the match.

In the third and what turned out to be final match, the Lakers struggled early and found themselves in a hole at 22-12.

They fought back and pulled within seven, down 23-16, but from there, the teams traded points which wasn't enough for Nipissing, on their way to a 25-18 loss.

Erika Lapierre led the Lakers with 11 kills and Tracy Hammerton added 7 in tonight's match.

The loss, coupled with the Lions win seal the fate of the Lakers this season, but they will try to end the year on a high note when they host the Windsor Lancers Saturday evening.

Game time is set for 6pm and just before opening serve, the Lakers will honour two senior players in a pre-match ceremony.