The Ryerson Ram’s men’s volleyball team lost to the York University Lions in the gold medal game of the 18th annual National Bank Invitational Volleyball Tournament.
Ryerson hosted the Sherbrooke University Vert et Or, Western University Mustangs, and York in a three day tournament starting on Friday Oct. 3 and finishing with Sunday’s gold medal game.
Ryerson began the tournament with a slow start, losing three sets to two against the Vert et Or. Later that day, Ryerson took on the Mustangs, winning three sets in a row.
Saturday’s round-robin game paired the Rams against the Lions, with Ryerson winning three sets in a row again.
The next game would decide if Ryerson would play in the gold or bronze medal game. Ryerson beat Sherbrooke three sets to one. This meant for the third consecutive year the Rams would play the Lions in the gold medal game.
Nearing the end of the first set, it was tied at 24. However the Lions took the first set, 32-30. In the second set, there was a long tally that brought the Rams within two points of York. But Ryerson could not tie the game after the second set, losing 25-20.
The third set went back and forth. The Rams were losing 10-5 early on, but battled back to tie the game at 13-13. From there the two teams stayed close together, but Ryerson was able to come out on top this time, 27-25.
However, by the Rams were not able to continue the winning ways into the fourth set. It was 25-15 victory for the Lions, which meant the Rams lost the game three sets to one.
Head coach Mirek Porosa said he felt his team played well all tournament but were unable to keep up with the Lions. He also said the team could not find a way to stop Josh Henderson of the Lions who was named rookie most valuable player for the tournament.
It was the second time in three years that the Rams lost to the Lions in the gold medal game. Ryerson won it last year.
The Rams men’s volleyball team start its regular season on Oct. 17 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre against the Guelph Gryphons.
With files from Beth Bowers
Halla is a YYZ based journo student.
She graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2015.