GUELPH, Ont. – Departing from last season's pattern of sending games into five sets, the Western Mustangs picked up a three set win (25-19, 25-21, 25-17) over the Guelph Gryphons at the W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre on Friday night.
 
The purple and white record now sits at 2-0 to remain the only undefeated team in OUA West, while Guelph's record sits at 1-2.
 
Aja Gyimah again led the purple and white half of the scoresheet, recording 15.5 points from 10 kills, four service aces and three assisted blocks. Kelsey Veltman followed with 11.5 points. Defensively Serena Smith led the Mustangs with 10 digs, while libero Courtney Sestric added eight.
 
Guelph was led by Becky Breau, who recorded seven kills and one ace for eight points.
 
The first few points set the tone for the entire match. Extending rallies past their usual length, both teams were scrambling on defensive end and capitalizing on unforced errors from their opposition.
 
Tightening up defensively, the Mustangs began chipping away at the 3-6 deficit early in the first set. Hustling to get hands on every ball and pick up ever blocked attack the score slid toward Western, and at the technical timeout the visitors had a six-point lead.
 
Returning to the floor, the Gryphons took three fast consecutive points off the Mustangs.
 
However, unable to hold on to their momentum and struggling with unforced errors the red and gold score began to slip, opening the door for the Mustangs who ended the set with a string of powerful attacks to take the first frame 25-19.
 
Opening up the second set with a missed serve from the purple and white, the Mustangs struggled to match the level of success they found in the first. Down at 3-6, the Gryphons tightened up serving to force the Mustangs into earning every point.
 
Momentum started to shift in favour of Western once Katherine Tsiofas cycled in to serve. Sending in difficult and accurate serves while setting up attacks for her team, it wasn't difficult to see the influence of the 5'10" setter on the floor.
 
A seven point run brought the Mustangs ahead to lead 16-11 at the technical timeout, before Guelph brought out a stronger offence upon return to the floor, tightening the score to 18-16.
 
Swinging hard and finding holes in both blocks and on the floor, Western's lead was eroded to only one point a 22-21.
 
After regaining the serve on a big solo block, Gyimah served the final two points and helped the Mustangs to a 25-21 second set victory.
 
Guelph again took an early lead in the third set, and again the Mustangs managed to overcome the point differential. Matching the red and gold score at 5-5, Western surged ahead and forced a timeout at 10-6.
 
Back on the floor, Western continued to run through the Gryphons. Gyimah's lengthy serving run started off each rally on a high note for the Mustangs, while Candice Scott and Taylor Beedie dominated the net.
 
Returning to the floor after the technical timeout with a 16-9 lead, the Mustangs rushed through the final points of the match, walking off the court with a 25-17 victory.
 
The Mustangs are back on the floor on November 8, when they travel to the nation's capitol to take on the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Game time is set for 2 p.m., and can be watched live on OUA.tv