Toronto, ON – The Nipissing Lakers Women's Volleyball team came up short in both weekend matches with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.  

Friday, November 21, the Lakers found themselves in a 4-4 tie to begin the first set. Toronto then won 6 of the next 7 points to take a 12-6 lead. Oceane Raymond-Leduc then stopped the momentum with a kill, followed by a service ace. Maya Macmillan scored a kill of her won and the Lakers were back in the set, down 12-9.  

Toronto then won 5 of the next 8 points to lead 17-12,before a Raymond-Leduc kill and Toronto service error got Nipissing going again. Ramanda Bell and Maya Macmillan provided 2 key kills down the stretch, but Toronto won 6 of the final 8 points to take the first set 25-18. 

Nipissing jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the second. Raymond-Leduc and Bell each had a service ace to begin the set. Macmillan and Cassie Robinson each had kills in the run that gave the Lakers the lead. Toronto would counter, but back-to-back Ramanda Bell kills put Nipissing up 14-7. Raymond-Leduc added another ace to put Nipissing up 16-8.  

Toronto then won 9 straight points to take a 17-16 lead. Nipissing would tie the game at 17 off a Toronto service error, but the tie was short-lived as U of T took 4 of the next 5 points to lead 21-18. Raymond-Leduc provided a kill, in combination with a Toronto serving error that had Nipissng back down just 1. Toronto then finished the set off winning another 4 of 5 points.  

The third set began similarly, before Toronto took an 8-4 lead. Nipissing scored on 2 kills by Madelaine Lamothe, but Toronto continued their roll and lead 11-6 before a Nipissing timeout. The Lakers then went on an 8-0 run to get back into the game at lead 15-12. Oceane-Raymond-Leduc had 2 big kills, and Nipissing capitalized on Toronto's attacking errors. U of T then won the next 4 points to lead 16-15, then another 4 to lead 20-16. 

The Lakers fought to remain in the match, but Toronto finished the set 25-19 to win 3-0. 

Oceane Raymond-Leduc lead the Lakers with 9 kills, followed by Ramanda Bell with 7. Raymond-Leduc scored 4 service aces in the match, while Bell, Cassie Robinson, and Madelaine Lamothe each had 1.  

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The Lakers looked to avenge the previous night's loss Saturday, November 22 as the team faced the Varsity Blues for another clash.  

Toronto began the first set with a 9-3 run before Maya Macmillan and Oceane Raymond-Leduc each scored a kill. Toronto took 4 of the next 5 points before Nipissing went on a 6-0 run to cut Toronto's lead to just 1. The teams traded points and the set remained close. Toronto scored 3 points in a row to lead 19-15 before an Anna Marie Horvat got the Lakers back in motion. Toronto then scored 5 points in a row to lead 24-16. Oceane Raymond-Leduc's kill secured Nipissing a 17th point, but Cassie Robinson's serving error gave Toronto the 25-17 win in set 1. 

Nipissing lead 5-2 to begin the second set, as Raymond-Leduc and Bell's kills once again proved effective. Toronto then won 4 in a row to lead 6-5.  

Nipissing rallied and capitalized on Toronto's attacking errors, followed, closely by a Madelaine Lamothe kill, to take an 11-8 lead. The teams traded points, leaving Nipissing up 17-13. Toronto then tied the game off of a 4-0 run. Raymond-Leduc's kill got the Lakers back in front 19-18, but Toronto's 6-0 run that followed sealed Nipissing's fate. 2 straight Raymond-Leduc kills brought Nipissing to a 5 point deficit, but Toronto finished the set on the next play, taking it 25-21. 

The third set started in similar fashion. The socre was 9-8 for Toronto after back and forth points were scored for either team. 

Toronto went on an 8/11 point run in the middle of the set. Ava Voss and Raymond-Leduc had a kill each to kill the momentum, but Toronto scored 3 more in a row to lead 21-12. Nipissing took 3 of the next 4, down 22-15, but Toronto answered, scoring 3 of their next 4, winning 25-16, and 3-0.  

Oceane Raymond-Leduc scored 13 kills in the match. Maya Macmillan had 7 kills, and Alex Hannivan had 4. Raymond-Leduc scored 1 service ace, and Madelaine Lamothe added 1 of her own.  

The two losses moves Nipissing to a 2-6 record this season. 

Women's Volleyball is back in action this weekend at RJS Athletic Centre in North Bay as the Western Mustangs pay a visit to North Bay. Match 1 goes Friday, November 28th at 6PM, and match 2 goes Saturday, November 29th at 2PM.  

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