The Lancer men's volleyball team made program history twice on Saturday night following their intense 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10) victory over the Ryerson Rams. The victory earned the Lancers their very first OUA medal with a third place finish overall, and secured them a bid at the U SPORTS national championships for the first time in program history.  
 
GAME STATS
Windsor had a good night on the net, more than doubling the Rams in total blocks 7-3.
 
Pierce Johnson had a sensational night for the Blue & Gold, leading all players with 26.5 points on 24 kills. Roland Bouchard and John Moate also hit double digits with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
 
Ryerson's Adam Anagnostopolous led all players in digs, recording 14, while the Lancers defensive effort was led by Roland Bouchard who made 11 digs.
 
Despite winning on an ace, the service line was a serious problem for the Lancers all night as they committed 27 service errors. The Rams only committed 16.
 
GAME FLOW
The game started out tight with both the Rams and the Lancers not allowing each other any separation as the score went back and forth in the early going. Windsor, however, could easily have opened a lead but could not find any consistency from the service line, sending a critical amount of serves out of bounds and gifting the Rams valuable points. The Lancers had committed nine service errors before the first set was even over. Despite the less than ideal service Windsor was able to score when they needed to, taking the first set 25-22.
 
The Lancers got off to a slightly better start from the service line in the second, but found themselves trailing in the second set. Just about midway through the set the Lancers were forced into a timeout as they trailed 11-7. Despite a few Ryerson errors late, Ryerson's Brett Whitley took the set on a nice kill, 25-21.
 
In the third, the Rams took an early lead, but the Lancers remained close, never letting Ryerson slip out of their grasp. Roland Bouchard was able to help the Lancers take a lead midway through the half, 16-13. The Rams tied the set late to force Windsor into a timeout at 18 points. The Lancers dug deep and despite a late service error that gave Ryerson the serve, won 25-23 when Isaac McKee sent the serve over the back line.
 
The Lancers established a slight lead early in the fourth set and maintained it for quite some as they led 16-13 at the media timeout. The Lancers, who struggled with their serves were now making a habit out of attacking Ryerson's libero and were finding consistent success from the service line for the first time in the game. Despite the early success, the Rams forced a fifth set with a kill by Lucas Coleman, 25-22.
 
The Lancers were able to capitalize on a service error to take a 8-5 lead into the halfway mark of the fifth set forcing the Rams into a timeout immediately after switching sides. Even with some late service errors, the Lancers were able to reconcile their problems, winning on a John Moate ace.
 
UP NEXT
The Lancers will be heading back to Hamilton to participate in the U SPORTS national championships. Stay tuned to www.golancers.ca or www.usports.ca for all the playoff information.