The Windsor Lancers men's volleyball team hosted the No. 2 McMaster Marauders on Saturday night in their final regular season game of the 2019-20 OUA season. Coming into the match McMaster was riding a 13-game winning streak which came to an end on Saturday night at the hands of the Windsor Lancers who defeated the Marauders 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-17). 
 
Although the Marauders opted to rest the majority of their usual starting players for the season finale, the Lancers did not hold back in front of their fans unleashing a solid team effort in their last home showcase of the season at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse. 
 
Before the game, the blue and gold recognized the outstanding careers of fifth year veterans Roland Bouchard and Brad Gyemi. Both players began playing with the Lancers in the 2015-16 season and have been integral parts of the program ever since enduring all of the ups and downs in recent years. In addition to a salute and standing ovation from the home crowd they were also awarded their jerseys in a frame prior to the match. Both players started and finished the match for the Lancers leading the charge for Windsor in their final time playing as Lancers at the St. Denis Centre.
 
GAME STATS
The Lancers were led offensively by both graduating seniors Bouchard and Gyemi.  Bouchard tallied 11 kills on the night while Gyemi had 10 respectively. Fourth year veterans Dami Alalade and Pierce Johnson each added 8 kills in their team's victory.  Nolan Langley had 33 assists in the blue and gold win isolating the offense well. 
 
The Marauders were led by Sam Cooper who had 12 kills in his team's loss. 
 
GAME FLOW
In the first set, the Lancers held a steady control throughout the set ensuring an arms-length lead on the Marauders throughout the set. The Marauders struggled to find consistency with their young core of traditionally second-string players on the floor while the experienced Lancers squad took advantage of the glimmering youth McMaster pitched their way. Nonetheless the Lancers experience helped them hold onto a 25-23 first set win despite a solid effort put forth by the young Marauders team. 
 
In the second set, the blue and gold continued to dictate the flow of this game. The Lancers opened up a 3-0 lead to start off the set and continued to hold onto the lead throughout the set. Windsor never seemed to let up on McMaster which allowed them to later open up a five-point gap in the set to close out the second set 25-20 and go up 2-0 in the match. 
 
In the third set, the Lancers were eyeing the sweep and continued to run their offense effectively ensuring that they would not give up the lead to the Marauders. The Lancers were hungry to serve the Marauders with their second loss of the season while also trying to cap off a successful senior's night for their two graduating players. They managed to open up a huge ten-point gap and never looked back ultimately claiming the third set 25-17 and taking the match 3-0 over a team historically speaking they usually struggle to beat. Despite some of McMaster's key pieces out of the lineup, the Lancers proved that they could put up a great fight against a full-strength Marauders squad down the road if the two teams meet up again in the playoff race. With the win, the Lancers close out the regular season 10-7 record on the campaign overall and have officially qualified for playoffs. 
 
UP NEXT
This game wrapped up the Lancers regular season schedule for the 2019-20 season and will now look ahead towards the post-season after earning a playoff berth locking up the third seed in the OUA West division.
 
The team is set to face the second seed in the OUA East division.  Tentatively, the Lancers are expected to match up with the Queen's Gaels for OUA quarter-final action next weekend in Kingston to begin their quest for the Forsyth Cup and qualifying for the U SPORTS national championships taking place this year at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba taking place from March 13th through to the 15th.
 
 Be sure to stay tuned on www.golancers.ca for more information regarding the specific details pertaining to the upcoming playoff match!