Box Score Toronto, ON – Nipissing Men's Volleyball pulled off an incredible victory on Friday, Feb. 20, beating the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the OUA's Forsyth Cup playoffs.
Heading into the match, Nipissing entered as the #7 seed in the OUA, claiming an 11-9 record in 20 regular season games this season. The Varsity Blues claimed the #2 seed with an 18-2 record.
In the first set, Nipissing jumped to a 6-3 lead before Toronto cut the lead to one point at 8-7. Nipissing managed a run of three in a row before Toronto matched with three of their own. Nipissing then took four of the next five points off of
Marc Marchand and
Taydon Shantz kills. Toronto would score two points to try and kill the Lakers momentum, but Nipissing would managed another run of four points in five to take a 19-13 lead.
Justice Smith and three Toronto errors contributed to the lead building for Nipissing.
Toronto would draw closer, scoring three of four points to trail by four, 21-17. The Lakers then won four points in a row to close the set with a 25-17 win, capitalizing once again on errors by the Blues and a
Zander Kasunich kill.
In the second set, the Lakers took a 5-3 lead before winning four of the next five points to lead 9-5.
Zander Kasunich and
Marc Marchand provided key kills in the run to help build Nipissing's lead. The Lakers and Blues trade points before Nipissing scored eight of the next ten points to take a 17-9 lead.
Zander Kasunich,
Marc Marchand, and
Justice Smith scored kills in this run before Marchand served an ace to give the Lakers an eight point lead.
From here, the Blues and Lakers traded points but Nipissing's lead proved to be too large of a deficit for Toronto to overcome as the Lakers took set two 25-17 to lead 2-0.
In the third set, Nipissing again began on the right foot, taking a quick 5-2 lead. Toronto proved they had some fight, eventually tying the set at seven points apiece.
The set would see ties at 10, 11, 12, and 13 points before the Lakers would score two in a row to lead 15-13. Toronto would tie the game back up at 16-16 before taking an 19-18 lead. Nipissing's Ben Franz provided a big kill to tie things at 19 each.
Marc Marchand's kill gave Nipissing the lead once again before Toronto would tie things at 21.
Lakers Head Coach
Eric Yung called a pivotal timeout at 21-21. From this timeout, the Lakers came out swinging and took four of the final five points in the match to win the third set 25-22 and the match 3-0.
Marc Marchand gave Nipissing their 23
rd point of the set and
Justice Smith's two kills finished things off for Nipissing, capping a fantastic win for the Lakers.
Nipissing's
Marc Marchand led the Lakers with 13 kills, served 2 aces, and added 6 digs and 1 block in the win.
Justice Smith scored 9 kills, served 1 ace, and had 6 digs.
Zander Kasunich scored 5 kills, 1 assist, and 1 block. Ben Franz had 5 kills, served 1 ace, 3 digs, and 4 blocks.
The win marks Nipissing's first OUA playoff win in program history.
Nipissing has advanced to the semifinals of the OUA playoffs and will face the Queen's Gaels in round two. Stay tuned for game information and time coming soon.
#GoLakers
