LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs continued their unbeaten streak as they defeated the York Lions in three straight sets (25-20, 25-14, 25-19) at Alumni Hall on Saturday night.
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York took an early lead in both the first and third set, and solid serving from Phil James of Ottawa, Ont. and 11 kills from Garrett May of Toronto sealed the deal for the Mustangs putting them at 5-0 on the season.
Solid offense from York late in the first set brought them to within four points of Western, but despite five kills from outside hitter Tom Podstawka, they couldn’t capitalize and Western took the set 25-20.
In the second set, poor service and returns from York gave Western an early eight-point lead. Plays were back and forth with unforced errors coming from both teams.
Late in the set, with Western ahead by four, James had an explosive kill that seemed to motivate Western. May continued to lead Western in kills in the second set with Western winning 25-14.
The third set saw York’s Nikola Sandic put up two aces to give York the lead for the first time since the first set and the Mustangs were down 15-6. On the receiving end of the third straight serve from Sandic, Reid Halpenny (Exeter, Ont.) passed the serve but could not get back up in time to dig the kill that York quickly put back at him. May had his third kill of the set to give possession back to Western, but just as quickly gave possession back to York. Western sided out on a hit by Halpenny, but was blocked on his second attempt at a kill.
York led Western 13-8 with great defensive and offensive plays and began to capitalize on Western’s sloppy play and miscommunication in the third set. Down by six, Western gained a point as York was out of rotation.
Matt Poulin (Winnipeg, Man.) took advantage and hit one down the line to bring Western to within four points of tying the game. Stellar serving from Halpenny brought the Mustangs from behind to tie up the game at 15 and York missed the court on two attempts afterwards.
Halpenny’s serving continued to frustrate York and they were forced to make a substitution. York held their own for two more points, but could not return a kill from May and were once again stuffed by a Poulin block.
York continued to make unforced errors and with once point away from taking the third set, James served into the net to give York possession. Waite responded with a kill to give Western the final point and the third set. Western went on a 16-4 run in the third set.
Players of the game were James for Western and libero Timothy Yu for York.
The Mustangs next home game is Sat. Nov 13 at 2 p.m. at Alumni Hall.
