No lead was safe during this game in women's volleyball between the Centennial Colts and the Loyalist Lancers.
In the end, though, Centennial survived, but not without a late scare.
In the first game back from the holidays, the Colts beat the Lancers three sets to one (26-24, 23-25, 25-11, 25-22) Wednesday night at the Athletic and Wellness Centre to improve to 6-4 on the season.
The Colts snapped a two game losing streak and avenged a season opening loss to the Lancers back on Oct. 21, 2016, when they lost in straight sets.
It was the first win by Centennial to a team with a winning record this season as they moved into a tie for fourth place in the OCAA East standings with Loyalist (6-4).
Hitter Tryscelle Lin led the Colts with 18 points on 16 kills while hitters Mari Pikkov and Lizzie Bowers (who also had four service aces) had ten points apiece. Pikkov also had 15 digs while middle Emily Joe had five service aces. Setter Brittany Somers paced the Colts with 24 assists in the win.
The game was close on most stats but the biggest difference in the game was in the service aces and errors column, in which Centennial had 13 service aces compared to Loyalist's three and the Colts committed 16 less errors than the Lancers (27-11).
Colts head coach Matthew Cheung was pleased by his team's composure in the face of adversity to close out the match against a pesky Lancers team.
"We gave up those leads in the first half of the season and in the second set as well," Cheung said. "This time, we not only held on but we had a positive mindset. The players realized it was part of the process."
Centennial got off to a slow start in the first set as Loyalist scored four straight points to go up 6-2 as miscommunication was evident from the Colts players. However, the Colts slowly chipped away and eventually took the lead at 23-22. After two straight Loyalist points, the Colts fought off a set point and behind a crucial spike from Lizzie Bowers, took the first set 26-24.
It was the exact opposite in the second set as the Colts were off to a fast start, reeling off five straight points to lead 7-2; however, the Lancers then stormed back and despite a late rally from Centennial, Loyalist took the second set, 25-23.
Centennial took over the third set in dominant fashion, as they led wire-to-wire. At one point, the Colts had nine unanswered points in the set and obliterated the Lancers 25-11.
The fourth and final set started off well, with Centennial going up 16-8. But Loyalist wouldn't go away, answering with two 4-0 runs in the set to cut the lead to 22-21.
A timeout by Coach Cheung, however, settled down the Colts players as they closed out the set, and the match, 25-22.
Coach Cheung says the fourth set was a growing experience for the players and himself.
"In the past, we would start freaking out and everyone's not composed, myself included," Cheung admitted. "The girls have learned to communicate well."
Up next: Centennial heads to Fleming to take on the Knights at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre Saturday at 1:00 pm.