January 16, 2006
LIONS TAME RAMS IN ALL-TORONTO MATCH-UP
After an indifferent start to the season, he defending OUA-champion York Lions reverted to their 2005 form with a big 3-2 win over the first-place Ryerson Rams at York Thursday. The Lions took the first two games by scores of 25-21 and 25-20 but Ryerson stormed back to even the match. The Lions were strong in the decisive fifth, winning 15-8 to complete the minor upset. Sholan Trivedi led the Lions with 17 kills and 20 points, while Paul Podstawka had a match-high 43 assists. Ryan Vandenburg led the Rams with 18 kills.
York kept their momentum going on a road trip to Waterloo, defeating the winless Warriors 3-0 by scores of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-11. James Battiston paced the Lions with 16 points in the match. Jordan Matthews had eight kills, while Rob Dyba recorded eight digs. Brent Forrest had a match-high 11 kills for the Warriors. The wins improve York's record to 7-5, putting them mid-table in the OUA.
Ryerson's loss to the Lions was the school's second on the year and they responded with two straight 3-0 wins over the Western Mustangs Saturday and the Windsor Lancers Sunday. Nicolas Beaver had eight kills and 12 points for the Rams in the Western win, while Greg Marszalek led all players with 29 assists. Western were unable to record more than 16 points in any of the three games. Marszalek had another 31 assists against the Lancers, while Vandenburg put away nine kills en route to 13 points in the match. Dave Quinn led the Lancers with 13 kills, a match high.
Western was able to stay in the hunt for top spot in the league with a pair of wins on the week. The Mustangs beat the Warriors 3-1 Wednesday, winning by scores of 25-15, 25-18, 20-25 and 25-19. Alexander Jerome had 14 kills for Western and setter Andrew Hinchney racked up 49 assists. Hinchney is fifth in the OUA, averaging 8.20 assists per game. Forrest and Kostya Kovalenko had 12 kills each for the Warriors. Western followed that win up with a 3-2 victory over Toronto, which improved their record to 9-4, just four points behind the Rams. Jerome had 16 kills and 20 points, while Mark Sidler put in a workmanlike defensive effort with 15 digs. Hinchey had another 38 assists in the win. Brendan Peel paced the Blues with 21 kills.
The Guelph Gryhons had a stellar start to their week with a 3-1 win over Laurier Wednesday and another 3-1 victory over the RMC Paladins Friday. But Guelph ran into trouble Saturday against the Queen's Golden Gaels, losing 3-2 to drop to 5-9 on the season. Andrew Bartram had 13 kills and 14 points versus the Hawks, while Jason Dodd had 17 digs. Jeff Laycock led the way for the Gryphons with 10 kills in the RMC match. Jamie Giddings had 27 assists, while Peter Hanly led the Paladins 12 kills. Guelph forced a fifth game against the Gaels but Queen's won 15-12 in the fifth to take a tight match. Andrew Bridgeman paced the Gaels with 19 kills, while Devon Miller had 54 assists. The win was Queen's 10th on the year against just two losses.
The Gaels also beat the McMaster Marauders 3-2 in Kingston Friday. Daniel McCrae had 16 kills and 20 points for the Gaels and Adam Simac chipped in another 12 kills. McMaster (10-3) rallied to send the match to a fifth game but Queen's scratched out the victory 15-13. Parrish Offer led the Marauders with 19 kills. McMaster bounced back with a 3-1 win over the Paladins the following day, led by Steve Murray's 17 kills and 20 points. Ryan Hudson had 40 assists in the match.
(Photo: Queen's sets up the attack in a 3-2 win over McMaster. Photo by Don Empey.)
York kept their momentum going on a road trip to Waterloo, defeating the winless Warriors 3-0 by scores of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-11. James Battiston paced the Lions with 16 points in the match. Jordan Matthews had eight kills, while Rob Dyba recorded eight digs. Brent Forrest had a match-high 11 kills for the Warriors. The wins improve York's record to 7-5, putting them mid-table in the OUA.
Ryerson's loss to the Lions was the school's second on the year and they responded with two straight 3-0 wins over the Western Mustangs Saturday and the Windsor Lancers Sunday. Nicolas Beaver had eight kills and 12 points for the Rams in the Western win, while Greg Marszalek led all players with 29 assists. Western were unable to record more than 16 points in any of the three games. Marszalek had another 31 assists against the Lancers, while Vandenburg put away nine kills en route to 13 points in the match. Dave Quinn led the Lancers with 13 kills, a match high.
Western was able to stay in the hunt for top spot in the league with a pair of wins on the week. The Mustangs beat the Warriors 3-1 Wednesday, winning by scores of 25-15, 25-18, 20-25 and 25-19. Alexander Jerome had 14 kills for Western and setter Andrew Hinchney racked up 49 assists. Hinchney is fifth in the OUA, averaging 8.20 assists per game. Forrest and Kostya Kovalenko had 12 kills each for the Warriors. Western followed that win up with a 3-2 victory over Toronto, which improved their record to 9-4, just four points behind the Rams. Jerome had 16 kills and 20 points, while Mark Sidler put in a workmanlike defensive effort with 15 digs. Hinchey had another 38 assists in the win. Brendan Peel paced the Blues with 21 kills.
The Guelph Gryhons had a stellar start to their week with a 3-1 win over Laurier Wednesday and another 3-1 victory over the RMC Paladins Friday. But Guelph ran into trouble Saturday against the Queen's Golden Gaels, losing 3-2 to drop to 5-9 on the season. Andrew Bartram had 13 kills and 14 points versus the Hawks, while Jason Dodd had 17 digs. Jeff Laycock led the way for the Gryphons with 10 kills in the RMC match. Jamie Giddings had 27 assists, while Peter Hanly led the Paladins 12 kills. Guelph forced a fifth game against the Gaels but Queen's won 15-12 in the fifth to take a tight match. Andrew Bridgeman paced the Gaels with 19 kills, while Devon Miller had 54 assists. The win was Queen's 10th on the year against just two losses.
The Gaels also beat the McMaster Marauders 3-2 in Kingston Friday. Daniel McCrae had 16 kills and 20 points for the Gaels and Adam Simac chipped in another 12 kills. McMaster (10-3) rallied to send the match to a fifth game but Queen's scratched out the victory 15-13. Parrish Offer led the Marauders with 19 kills. McMaster bounced back with a 3-1 win over the Paladins the following day, led by Steve Murray's 17 kills and 20 points. Ryan Hudson had 40 assists in the match.
(Photo: Queen's sets up the attack in a 3-2 win over McMaster. Photo by Don Empey.)
