HAMILTON, Ont. – The Mohawk Mountaineers men's volleyball team came within a set of upsetting the No. 8 nationally ranked Cambrian Shield on Sunday, but fell in five sets after taking the opening two.

Both teams traded leads early in the first set. Mohawk pulled ahead late and appeared in control at 23-19 before surrendering four straight points to allow Cambrian to tie the score. After a timeout, the Mountaineers regrouped and scored the next two points to take the set 25-23.

In the second set, Mohawk trailed 17-12 before mounting a comeback. The Mountaineers tied the score at 20-20 and held set points at 24-23 and 25-24, but could not close the set until their third opportunity at 26-25.

The 2-0 lead marked the only second time this season that Cambrian had lost the first two sets of a match.

Set three was again tight, with the teams tied 20-20 for the second straight set. The Shield then seized momentum, scoring five of the next six points to win 25-21 and extend the match.

Mohawk trailed throughout the fourth set but cut the deficit to 24-23 late. Cambrian halted the rally and claimed the set 25-23 to force a deciding fifth.

The Mountaineers opened the fifth set with a 4-2 lead, but the Shield responded with six straight points to go ahead 8-4. Mohawk was unable to recover, falling 15-9.

Service errors proved costly, as Mohawk committed 25 to Cambrian's 16.

Marthus Guedes (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the Mountaineers with a season-high 18 kills, while Brecken Morrison (Stouffville, Ont.) recorded 39 assists, his second-highest total of the season.

Mohawk's next match will have playoff implications. The Mountaineers (7-5), currently fourth in the OCAA West Division, will visit the second-place Humber Hawks (9-4) on Thursday in Etobicoke, Ont. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m.