OSHAWA, Ont. - The Durham Lords secured a commanding straight-set victory over the La Cité Coyotes in men's volleyball, sweeping their opponents 25-19, 25-18, and 25-18. 

Cory Pharand led Durham's offensive charge with nine kills on 19 attempts, hitting an impressive .368. He also added a block and four digs, providing a consistent threat at the net. 

William Egan was highly efficient, recording five kills on just eight attempts without an error for a .625 hitting percentage. His dominance extended to the defensive end, where he contributed three solo blocks and six digs.

Setter Jayden Benjamin orchestrated the Lords' attack with 31 assists while also chipping in two blocks and three digs. His ability to distribute the ball effectively was key to maintaining Durham's offensive rhythm. 

Petrus Kuypers added six kills on 12 attempts with, along with two service aces and a block. Shane Poleon made his mark with three kills on four attempts, hitting .750. 

Jonas Felix provided depth with three kills and a service ace, while Trent Engel added four kills to help round out the offensive contributions. 

Team manager and men's rugby player Trent Giddings became the latest dual-sport athlete at DC on Saturday, making his volleyball debut for the Lords before being set to graduate.

Despite a few service errors, Durham kept pressure on La Cité with five total service aces and a strong net presence, recording 11 blocks as a team.

Defensively, the Lords were solid with 27 total digs, limiting La Cité's opportunities to build momentum. 

Their blocking, led by contributions from multiple players, was a crucial factor in stifling La Cite's attack, which was held to a .169 hitting percentage across the match.

The Lords have one match left on the schedule as Durham will host the Algonquin Wolves on Sunday at 3:00 PM.

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