Box Score The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's volleyball team dropped a narrow 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 10-15) decision to the York Lions in their third annual OVA Day on Sunday, November 13 at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
 
The Varsity Blues honoured U of T alumni and 2016 beach volleyball Olympians Josh Binstock, Heather Bansley and Kristina Valjas in a special post-game ceremony in the Kimel Family Field House.
 

SO amazing to honour 2016 @UofT Olympians @drjoshbinstock @HeatherBansley & @KristinaValjas at our 3rd annual OVA Day! #Rio2016 #WeAreTO pic.twitter.com/KNDBXeyulV

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

Fourth-year right side hitter Will Colucci notched a career-high 29 points on 27 kills and two blocks, while adding eight digs on the day.
 
Team captain Aidan Haslett added 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and one ace, while rookie outside hitter Nicholas Trewern had 10 kills and a team-high 13 digs.
 
Rookie setter Jordan Figueira tallied 52 assists and six digs in the loss.
 
The Lions got out to a 9-5 lead went onto take a 16-9 advantage into the technical timeout. Aidan Haslett attempted to rally the Blues but York took the first set 25-18.
 

MVB: Toronto trailing @yorkulions 16-9 at the first set tech timeout. WATCH this Will Colucci kill! pic.twitter.com/cWKAcRlJSU

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

 

MVB: @yorkulions takes the first set 25-18 over Toronto
WATCH Zia Karim with a big kill! @ova_updates pic.twitter.com/cfvu82sLiO

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

The second set started as a back-and-forth battle, with the Lions taking a narrow 16-13 lead at the break. Toronto battled back though, ending the set on an 8-1 run to even the match, 25-21.
 

MVB: Toronto down 16-13 to @yorkulions at the 2nd set tech timeout. York leads the match 1-0. WATCH this big kill from Will Colucci! pic.twitter.com/uVRKPGngww

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

 

MVB: Toronto evens the match 1-1 with a 25-21 2nd set win over @yorkulions ! WATCH Nick Trewern with a massive kill! @ova_updates pic.twitter.com/WKujp1ClAz

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

The third set was a see-saw battle as York led 16-14 at the technical timeout and took a 2-1 match lead with a 25-23 victory.
 

MVB: @yorkulions with a narrow 16-14 lead at the 3rd set tech timeout. Match tied 1-1. WATCH this Will Colucci kill! @ova_updates pic.twitter.com/q0aRciXGBM

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

 

MVB: @yorkulions takes a 2-1 match lead with a 25-23 3rd set win.
WATCH this Valjas/Colucci block! @ova_updates pic.twitter.com/BJliS1WzEf

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

Toronto bounced back though, going on a 6-1 run to take a 16-15 lead at the break. A final kill from Colucci sealed the win, 25-23, to force a fifth and deciding set.
 

MVB: Toronto leads @yorkulions 16-15 at the 4th set tech timeout! York leads the match 2-1. WATCH this Zia Karim block! @ova_updates pic.twitter.com/7y3ieSGpLn

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

 

MVB: We're headed to a 5th set! Blues tie it up with @yorkulions with a 25-23 4th set win! Watch this Aidan Haslett kill! @ova_updates pic.twitter.com/yANfGalKwy

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 13, 2016

The Lions held on for the win, taking an 8-5 lead at the switch and winning the final set 15-10.
 
Alex Duncan-Thibault paced the Lions with a game-high 30 points on 20 kills, nine blocks and one ace in the win.
 
The Varsity Blues return to action on Friday, November 25 when they travel down the street to take on the Ryerson Rams. Game time is set for 8 p.m.

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