Box Score LONDON, Ont. -- The Western Mustangs men’s volleyball team finished its home opening weekend tonight with a test against the Guelph Gryphons in Alumni Hall. The Mustangs were fired up from a recent loss to Waterloo, and used the energy to take the Gryphons with flying colours in three straight sets. The win brings the team's OUA regular season record to 3-1.
 
Set scores were 25-20, 25-21, 26-24.
 
Head coach Jim Sage was pleased with the outcome of the game and was happy to see a win the team deserved.
 
Captain Sean McKay said “after last night, it was a tough loss so it was good to start nice and quick tonight, unlike last night where we kind of ‘lolli-gagged’ in the first couple sets.”
 
Garret May lead the Mustangs with 24 kills on 45 attempts while Sean McKay had 43 assists along with Derek Kuiack who earned nine digs for the team. The Mustangs earned 13.0 blocks for the team, more than doubling Guelph’s count of 6.0.
 
Leading the Guelph Gryphons was Winston Rosser with eight kills on 37 attempts while committing ten errors.
 
In effort of avoiding a repeat of yesterday, the Mustangs immediately took to the court earning the first point of the set to edge Guelph point by point with kills from first ranked OUA player May, and unexpected tips from setter McKay. Turning point for point only for a moment, Western advanced three above Guelph. Making a five point come back, Guelph scared Western to a time out. From there, the Mustangs gained a strong lead with numerous kills from May. Guelph could not respond to and fell 20-25 to Western.
 
With no change of pace, the Mustangs stormed in four points to open the second, and then doubled Guelph’s score count. The ‘Stangs lead by 5 at technical time out to eventually advance 21-14 on the Gryphons. White and purple took command of the court with middle Luke Sim blocking points from Guelph. While the Gryphons managed two straight points on Western’s set point, that was the last thing the Mustangs would allow before riding out 25-21.
 
The Gryphons changed their wings with the switch of the set edging the Mustangs point for point. The Stangs eventually surged two points ahead, but quickly lost the gain and fell back point for point. Guelph led 16-14 at technical time out, fighting tough blocks from 6-foot-5 middle Phil James. May pounded the ball Guelph’s way tying 20-20, but the Gyphons beat the Mustangs to game point leading by three. Coming back, Western surged to 26 to win by two and take Guelph by storm.
 
The Mustangs men’s volleyball team has a break next weekend but return in to action on November 17 to challenge Royal Military College in Kingston. A match against Queen's Gaels follows on the road on Sunday, November 18.