Jake Dysselhof recorded 23 kills to lead the Varsity Blues men's volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22) win over the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sunday, January 23 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
The Golden Hawks nabbed the opening game points thanks to Greg Houston (Chatham, Ont.) and Matt Polley (Point Perry, Ont.). The Blues evened the score twice, but the Golden Hawks answered back and made took the lead at the first technical. The Hawks continued to widen the gap, despite kills coming from Dysselhof (Mississauga, Ont.) and Ottawa native Adam Palmer, eventually doubling the score. The Hawks took the set 25-19.
The Blues started off the second set with a kill and an ace from Palmer and they continued to gain some ground. However, Laurier soon responded and the game began to tie up repeatedly through the second technical, with Dysselhof and Polley battling it out. It continued tight through to the final minutes of play, tying three more times up to 19-19. Rookie standout Matthew Vares of Scarborough, Ont., claimed it for the Blues with a final definitive kill.
Dysselhof came out swinging in the third, landing five kills before the first technical. The Blues kept the Golden Hawks at bay and were up 16-11 after the second technical. Laurier came close to gaining the lead, but U of T pulled though, winning again at 25-22.
Despite an early lead in the fourth, the Golden Hawks quickly caught up, eager to stay in the game. It continued to be tight through to the second technical, the Blues with a slight 16-14 lead. Toronto had the upper hand up until the very end, when the Golden Hawks, in a last ditch attempt to overtake the Blues, tied the game 22-22. However, Dysselhof and Jonathan Adomait (Ottawa) nabbed the last few game points, claiming the match and the game 25-22.
The Varsity Blues men's volleyball team return to action when they take on the Queen's Gaels on Friday, January 28 in Kingston, Ont. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m.
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