Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Lancer men's volleyball team secured a spot in the post season with a split their final games of the regular season on the road, defeating the Nipissing Lakers 3-2 on Saturday before falling to the York Lions 3-0 on Sunday.
 
Saturday's contest with the Lakers was back and forth, with scores of 26-24, 23-25, 20-25, 25-18 in the first four sets, before the Lancers took the fifth and deciding set 15-11.  The game marked the twelfth time this season that the Lancers went the distance in a five-set match.
 
The Lancers were led by graduating seniors Adam Thompson, whose 11 kills on 19 swings was good for 0.526 hitting percentage and 14 points, and Greg Simone, who had 9 kills and led the team with 11 digs.  Right side hitter Gabriel Burlacu also chipped in with 13 kills and 14 points.
 
The Lakers had a standout performance by second year right side hitter Cameron Branch, who had a game-high 21 kills and 22 points.  Third year left sides Lyndon Sonego (12 kills, 12 digs, 17 points) and Andrew McWiggan (12 kills, 13 points) also contributed to the Lakers' offense.
 
With Saturday's win, the Lancers clinched a play-off spot for the first time since 2012.
 
On Sunday, the Lancers were swept by the York Lions in a match-up to determine playoff opponents for both teams.
 
The first set saw both teams exchanging points throughout the first half of the game.   With York leading 16-13 at the technical time-out, the Lancers fought back to cut the lead to 19-20, but the Lions went on a run to take the final four points, and the first set 25-20.
 
The second set began on an even note, with the score tied up at 5-5.  The Lions used their strong serving to take the lead at 13-7, with a Thompson block stopping the run for the Lancers.  York led 16-10 at the technical, and strong play by first year outside hitter Josh Henderson and fifth year outside hitter Ray Szeto pushed the Lions to a 25-14 second set victory.
 
Despite the Lions' quick 7-1 lead to start the third set, the Blue & Gold fought back and were only trailing by 2, at 14-16, at the technical time out.  Both teams exchanged points, with York going on a run to take the third and final set by a score of 25-19.
 
The Lancers were led on Sunday by 9 kills apiece by Burlacu and Simone.  For the Lions, Henderson (13 kills, 9 digs, 17.5 points) and Szeto (9 kills, 15.5 points) had strong performances.
 
The Lancers finish the regular season with a 9-11 record and secured the final playoff spot in the post season. Stay tuned to goLancers.ca for playoff information as it becomes available.