Box Score LONDON, Ont.- The Western Mustangs men’s volleyball stepped onto the court after a victory over the Queen’s Gaels yesterday afternoon ready to take on the last place Royal Military College Paladins.
 
The Mustangs topped the Paladins in three straight sets for their second victory of the weekend, and their fourth win in a row. The Mustangs OUA regular season record rises to 10-2.
 
Set scores were 25-16, 25-13, 25-8
 
“I feel good about today’s game, it was great to get all my guys in because they work really hard in practice and they often don’t get the chance to play,” head coach Jim Sage said after the game. “I was really pleased with how they played—the game almost picked up when the starters came off.”
 
Leading the Mustangs was Mike Choja with a game high of 13 points with 10 kills on 12 attempts, followed closely by Garrett May who finished with 12 points and six kills.
 
The Mustangs started off slow as RMC managed to score early in the first set. However it wasn’t long before Western climbed back and evened the score. The teams rallied until May sent a ball over the net the Paladins could not return,  beginnig a six-point run for the ‘Stangs. With the Mustangs stretching their lead to eight, the Paladins finally called a timeout in hopes of regrouping. But it wouldn’t be enough to solve the Mustangs as Western went on to take the set 25-16.
 
Up one set, the Mustangs carried their momentum into the second and picked up the early lead. While the game tightened and both teams batteled for every point,eventually Western’s tally began to rise.At the technical timeout Western was leading 16-7. The Mustangs would take the set 25-13.
 
The ‘Stangs came onto the court for a third time and surged to a ten-point lead. Leading by 11 at the technical time out, middle Choja helped hold the advantage with a service ace. Outside hitter Thomas Bednarik blocked RMC’s attempts, helping Western climb to a 21-7 lead, forcing the Paladins to call a timeout. But it would be of no help as left side Doug Austrom smashed the ball over the net to secure the set 25-8.
 
Leading the Paladins was Thomas McMullen with a team high eight points with five kills.
 
Next week the Mustangs will hit the road to take on the first-place McMaster Marauders on Friday, January 25, at 8:00 p.m., followed by a test against the York Lions on Saturday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m.