Lions Fall to Rustlers in New Year Return

            The Ambrose Lions took on the Lakeland College Rustlers in Friday night to kick off their return after Christmas break. The Lions sport a 7-5 record at the midway point of the season while the Rustlers sit at 5-6 but have won their last 2.

            The Rustlers opened up the first set taking a 5-1 lead and carried that momentum for a while. Ambrose was able to close the gap thanks to strong play form Nikita Marchenkov and Noah Verhoef. The Lions brought it to a tie at 15-15, but the Rustlers responded with a run to take a 19-16 advantage leading to an Ambrose timeout. Rustler's #16 Gustavo Lobato served an ace out of the timeout. Another ace from #3 Gabriel Bjorkas forced the Lions second timeout. Down 18-22, the Lions needed to go on a run but shot themselves in the foot with poor serves dropping the opening set 25-22.

            The Lions started out the second set stronger, getting out to a 9-6 lead. A couple of consecutive errors by the Rustlers lead to a 12-7 Lions advantage triggering a timeout by Lakeland. Lakeland chipped away at the difference, but Ambrose answered back with a to take a commanding 19-12 advantage. After being down 23-18 Lakeland would get within one but the Lions would close it out 25-22 to bring the sets even.

            Ambrose kicked off the third set with a 7-4 lead. After bringing it to a draw the teams would trade points until Lakeland finally broke out on a run to go ahead 13-10. Out of the timeout the Lions responded with a run of their own to take a 14-13 advantage and draw a timeout out of the Rustlers. Another lead change quickly followed as Lakeland went up 17-14. Ambrose would get close, but the Rustlers closed out the set 25-21 to take a 2-1 advantage.

            Going into a must-win set the Lions started out slow falling into a 5-point hole early. The Lions were down as much as 11-18 but were finally able to gain some momentum with Noah Verhoef serving bringing the Lions within 2. However, it wouldn't be enough as Lakeland would take the set 25-22 to finish off the match 3-1.

            With the loss the lions drop to 7-6, they remain 3^rd in the South but with more games played than any other team in their division. Player of the game awards were given to Lakeland #13 Mason Short who had a game high 16 kills and Ambrose #15 Nikita Marchenkov who had 13 kills of his own for the Lions. Ambrose will have to try and bounce back tomorrow night when they take on the Keyano College Huskies who currently sit 3^rd in the North.