Box Score LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs women's volleyball team returned to Alumni Hall on Friday evening for their first home game of 2014 to host the Royal Military College Paladins. The Mustangs won 3-0 with set scores of 25-20, 25-10 and 25-23.
 
Western and RMC battled neck-in-neck during the first part of the set. Though post-technical timeout, Western had swiftly taken a seven-point lead, causing the Paladins to call a timeout to change tactics. Their strategy was not enough however, to overcome the deficit and the Mustangs took the set 25-20 with the help of Kenzie MacDonald who put up six kills for the purple and white.
 
"Even when it got tight, I knew we had solid group communication and they stuck with the game plan," said Western head coach Melissa Bartlett, adding that she was relaxed and knew the team was in control.
 
Any confidence the Paladins produced in the first set was all but lost in the second frame. Thriving on their consistency and communications, Mustangs proceeded to take an immediate and steady lead over their guests. Senior Mustang Stephanie Kreuter added six kills and four digs to the scoreboard while Nimi Bassi secured the set 25-10 with a service ace.
 
As the match continued into the third set, the Paladins refused to go down without a fight and the teams went once again point for point until RMC used a timeout to regroup. The Mustangs returned to finish off the set, and the match, with a close score of 25-23.
 
This matchup was also the Mustangs' first time defeating an opposing team in three sets at home this season.
 
Despite their loss, the RMC Paladins displayed skill during the match. Chelsey Litjens tallied nine kills for the team's offence and Danielle Vortisch added nine digs on defence.
 
The Western women's volleyball team will play their second game of their double-header weekend against Queen's at Alumni Hall on Saturday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. Fans from around the world can watch all the action live on Mustangs TV.