LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs faced a much tougher game in tonight’s match up with the Queen’s Gaels.
After sweeping RMC in three straight sets last night, the Mustangs dropped the first set to the Gaels before taking the second and third sets putting the Mustangs within reach of the win. The Gaels powered back though taking the fourth and fifth sets. Set scores were 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 21-25 and 16-18.
In a tightly contested first set, neither team was behind by more than two points at any time. Mathieu Poulin (Shanty Bay, Ont.) and Reid Halpenny (Exeter, Ont.) each had three kills with Pat Johnston (Whitby, Ont.) adding five digs. It wasn’t enough however, and Queen’s topped Western in the end.
The second set saw Western back on top of their game as they ended the set with 43 attacks and the win. Mathew Waite (St. Thomas, Ont.) had five kills, while May contributed another four.
Western and Queen’s dealt with back and forth rallies in the third set that could have seen the win go to either team, but the Mustangs secured the set 25-22 with kills from May and huge blocks from Poulin.
In the fourth set, Western had trouble getting past the Queen’s blocks but Queen’s had no trouble digging any ball that did get hit at them. Of the 14 kills that Western had in the fourth set, nine came from Poulin. Queen’s rallied to take the set 21-25 and send the game into a fifth and deciding set.
The fifth set proved to be an exciting one, but Western couldn’t capitalize and Queen’s took the set 18-16 and the game 3-2.
“We need to be a little more consistent,” said Jim Sage, Mustangs Head Coach. “The ball can go one inch one way and we win the game, but one inch the other way and the other team wins the game. We played hard.” Of similar circumstances potentially in the next month, Sage said, “We have to find a way to win.”
The loss puts Western at 15-2 on the season.
Players of the game were May for Western and Joren Zeeman for Queen’s.
Western’s next home game is Jan. 28 at Alumni Hall against Windsor. Game time is 8 p.m.
