Kingston, ON – Nipissing Men's Volleyball's run towards a Forsyth Cup Championship came to a halt Friday evening as the Lakers suffered a 3-0 loss at the Queen's Gaels in OUA playoff action.
 
The Lakers advanced to the OUA semifinals for the first time in program history and were set to meet Queen's for the third time this season. Previously, each side had taken one win from the other in regular season play in November.
 
In the first set, Queen's and Nipissing saw ties at five, six, and seven points before Queen's took a 12-8 lead. Nipissing would score points to stifle the Gaels advance but Queen's maintained their lead through the middle part of the set. Nipissing scored four of five points to trial 18-17 off of a Zander Kasunich kill and three Queen's errors. Nipissing would score another to trail by two after Queen's regained position. Queen's then scored five in a row to win the first set 25-18.
 
In the second, Nipissing jumped into action, quickly taking a 5-1 lead. Queen's woke up and began scoring at a similar pace to the Lakers, and eventually drew the set closer, trailing 9-8. Nipissing took three in a row off of kills by Marc Marchand and Jimmy Gill. Queen's responded with three of their own, and the score was 12-11 Lakers. Nipissing got it to 15-12 for the away side before Queen's stormed back into the set, taking six of the next seven points to retake the lead 18-16. The Lakers fought hard, getting it to 19-18 Queen's before another Queen's four of five run left the home team a single point from a set win. Nipissing scored three in a row to trail by two before Queen's took their 25^th point and the set win, 25-22.
 
The teams traded points to begin the third set. 8-8 was the score before Queen's took an 11-8 lead. Nipissing kept it close and eventually tied the set at 16. Queen's managed to take a crucial three of four points run to take a three-point lead, 19-16. Nipissing would fight hard to get back in the set, but Queen's took the third 25-22 and the match 3-0 to advance to the OUA finals.
 
Nipissing's Jimmy Gill led the Lakers with 8 kills, 1 dig, and 2 blocks. Marc Marchand scored 7 kills, 1 service ace, 1 dig and 2 blocks. Zander Kasunich had 5 kills and 3 blocks. Justice Smith scored 1 service ace, 4 digs, and 1 block. Taydon Shantz had 3 kills, 1 service ace, and 3 digs in the loss.
 
The Lakers will face the Western Mustangs on Friday, March 6 at Alumni Hall in London, Ontario in the OUA bronze medal match. Match time is 7PM. OUA.tv will have live coverage.
 
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