Second-year left side hitter Evan Falardeau notched a season-high 23 points as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's volleyball team defeated the York Lions 3-2 (16-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11) on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 23) at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
 
With the win, the Blues wrap up the regular season with an OUA-best 17-1 record, atop the East division.
 
WHAT'S NEXT? Toronto will host the Brock Badgers, who finished fourth in the OUA West, in an OUA quarter-final next Saturday, February 29 at 3 p.m.
 
TORONTO STATS: Falardeau recorded 20 kills, two aces and one block, while also adding five digs on the day.
 
Fourth-year outside hitter Alex Barnes totaled 11.5 points off of eight kills, 2.5 blocks and one ace and led Toronto with 10 digs. Veteran setter Jordan Figueira tallied 32 assists and six digs in the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: It was all Lions in the first set as they got out to a 16-7 lead at the technical timeout. The Blues attempted to rally but it was too little, too late, as York took the opening frame 25-16.
 
Toronto bounced back in the second set, building an early 8-3 advantage; however York closed the gap as U of T held a one-point lead at the technical timeout. With the set tied at 18-18, some solid Blues serving evened the match, 25-21.
 
The third set was even in the early goings until the Lions pushed ahead to take a 16-10 lead at the tech timeout. York maintained that six-point advantage and took a 2-1 match lead, 25-19.
 
Both teams battled in the fourth set and the Lions held a narrow 16-14 lead at the break. Toronto did not quit though, coming back to force a fifth set, 25-22.
 
The fifth set was a see-saw battle with the Blues holding a narrow 8-7 lead at the switch. Toronto pulled ahead late and, with a final block from Martin Kosic and Barnes, the Blues sealed their 13th straight victory, 15-11.
 
For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.