Corey Lablans

Volleyball (M) 2/23/2016 11:06:00 PM Posted by: Peter Reimer (Sports Information Assistant)

Gaels Playoff Preview - No.9 Men's volleyball hosts York Saturday afternoon

Volleyball (M) 2/23/2016 11:06:00 PM Posted by: Peter Reimer (Sports Information Assistant)

Gaels Playoff Preview - No.9 Men's volleyball hosts York Saturday afternoon

The No.9 Gaels men's volleyball team plays the first round of the playoffs in the ARC main gym on Saturday at 3pm against York. For tickets to see the Gaels take on York click here.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

RECORD: 15-5	Last time out: W 3-1 vs. RMC	STREAK: Won 3
WHO'S HOT?: Scott Brunet - Scored a game-high 17 points on 12 kills and 5 solo blocks vs. RMC

The second-seed No.9 Gaels men's volleyball team (15-5) hosts the seventh-seed York Lions (9-11) in the ARC main gym at 3pm on Saturday to start the 2015-16 playoffs.

Queen's has three straight wins heading into the playoffs, which helped them to secure the number two seed in the OUA, while York won their final two games to separate themselves from the bottom of the table and earn the final spot in the playoffs. The tricolour beat the Lions in both meetings during the regular season.

The Gaels hosted RMC to close out their regular season schedule, winning 3-1 last weekend to end RMC's winless season. Thomas Ellison (Winnipeg) captained Queen's offence with 50 assists in the match. Ben Harper (Ottawa) had a good day hitting the ball, ending the match with a game-high 14 kills and three aces. Scott Brunet (Calgary) also recorded 17 points on the day, with 12 kills and a game-high five solo blocks. Marco Dakic (Mississauga, Ont.), who is fifth in OUA kills with 246, had nine kills and 10 digs in the win. Ivo Dramov (Plovdiv, Bulgaria) made a game-high 12 digs for Queen's, which helped improve his fifth best digs per set stat of 2.44. Mike Tomlinson (Stratford, Ont.) has also had another notable season, sitting seventh in the OUA in hitting percentage at .286 and eighth in kills per set at 3.37. The Gaels will be looking for playoff retribution on Saturday, as it was the Lions who eliminated Queen's in 2014-15 in a 3-1 game.

York ended the regular season on a high note, shocking No.2 McMaster in a 3-1 victory. Arthur Szwarc showed why he leads York's offence by picking up a game-high 18 kills on a .519 hitting percentage. Fourth in OUA kills and first in blocking, Szwarc's 331 points during the season are good for the third highest total in the league. Logan Mend is the Lions starting setter this season, and he matched McMaster's setter with 42 assists in the York win. With 675 total assists this year, Mend is third in the OUA. After defeating Queen's in the playoffs last season, York went on to lose in the second round to Waterloo.

Marco Dakic is using his fifth year of eligibility this season as a Gael, but before coming to Queen's for law school, Dakic played four fruitful years at York which included playoff wins over Queen's in 2015 and 2013. He'll look to turn the tables Saturday with the Gaels.

OUA Men's Volleyball Playoffs

CURRENT MATCHUP

SERIES AT A GLANCE

(2) Queen's Gaels (15-5, 30 pts)
Home record: 8-2

Away record: 7-3

Regular Season

Nov 7/15	W 3-1 @ YOR
Jan 22/16	W 3-0 @ QUE

Playoff Schedule (Single Elimination)

Feb 27/16	YOR @ QUE 3pm^OUA.tv

(3) York Lions (9-11, 18 pts)
Home record: 7-3

Away record: 2-8

Gael to watch

Marco Dakic | #9 | OH | Queen's
The fifth year outside hitter is new to the Gaels roster, having played the rest of his CIS career for the opposing York Lions. Dakic is the top offensive performer for Queen's with 246 kills during the regular season, good enough for fifth best in the OUA, and the third best hitting percentage at .350.

Libero low-down