North Bay, ON – The Nipissing Lakers Women's Volleyball team secured victory in four sets during their Saturday-afternoon match with the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold.
The Lakers started quickly, jumping out to an 11-2 lead early in the first set. The Bold found their footing and managed to keep the set close. Nipissing took a five-point lead at 20-15 and won 5 of the next 8 points to finish the set 25-18 and take a 1-0 lead.
The Bold began the second set taking a 7-2 lead before the Lakers took 7 of the next 12 points to bring the deficit to just two. Toronto took the momentum back, taking a 17-12 lead. The teams traded points before Toronto took a run into a 23-16 lead. The Lakers won 5 of the next 6 points and showed immense fight but ultimately the Bold closed out the set 25-21.
The Lakers began the 3rd set on a mission, taking a 10-3 lead with several kills. The Bold again rallied in similar fashion, cutting their deficit to three. Nipissing was bound to finish the set and took 12 of 18 points to close out a decisive 25-16 win in the third.
The fourth set proved to be the closest of the contest with the largest lead for either team being just 2 points. Oceane Raymond-Leduc and Aurora House provided key kills down the stretch in this set as the Lakers looked destined to end the contest in four. Up 24-22, Hannah Bellai ended the game with a service ace, sending RJS Athletic Centre into a frenzy.
Anna Marie Horvat provided several key offensive plays, ending the game with 10 kills and 4 service points. Horvat also lead the team in assisted blocks, with 5. Ocean Raymond-Leduc had 18 kills and 4 service points in the match. Aurora House and Cassie Robinson were key in the Lakers' defensive efforts, each having 4 assisted blocks. Madeline Lamothe finished with 2 solo blocks and 2 assisted blocks in the win.
The win provided Nipissing with a split in this weekend's matches against TMU. The Lakers record now sits at 1-3 on the season.
Women's Volleyball is back in action in two weekends facing off with Queen's University in Kingston. Game 1 of the weekend slate goes Friday, November 14th at 6pm, with the second game going Saturday, November 15th at 2pm. Catch all the action live on OUA.tv.
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