TORONTO – Beginning their final weekend of the regular season on a high note, the Mustangs captured a win over the York Lions in four sets (20-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-22) at the Tait McKenzie Center Saturday afternoon.

The win keeps the Mustangs in competition for the final playoff spot as their record improves to 6-12, they remain tied for fourth place in OUA West with Windsor. The Lions remain in fifth place in OUA East as their record evens out at 9-9.
 
Kicking off the first set, Western took on an early lead and had the Lions doubled at 8-4.  Though, by relying on unforced errors from the Mustangs, York would close the point gap at 12-12.
 
At the technical timeout, the Lions had a single point advantage at 15-16. Remaining below York's score following a series of attacks flying past the base line, the Mustangs called their second time out of the set at 19-21.
 
Despite regaining the serve immediately after returning the court, Western was unable to slow the momentum of the Lions and gave up the first set 20-25.
 
Mustang serving errors would give York an early advantage in the second set with two points from the Lion's scoreboard came from Mustang serving errors at 3-3.
 
With a six-point run from the Lions – bringing the score to 7-10, Western was forced into an evaluative timeout. Returning to the court, the Mustangs immediately regained the serve. Candice Scott served through three consecutive points for Western, two of which came from her unreturnable serve, to force the Lions into a timeout of their own at 11-10.
 
Still maintaining the lead by a small point margin, the Mustangs were ahead at 18-16.
 
Kelsey Veltman closed out the set for the Mustangs at 25-19 with a final kill.
 
Looking to improve the dynamic on the court, the Lions underwent changes in the lineup for the third set. Unfortunately, the changes were not as effective as York had hoped as Western took an early 3-0 lead.
 
At 14-4, the purple and white lead was still in full effect. Pushing the Mustangs into their ten point lead was Aja Gyimah, whose consistent serves challenged the Lions.
 
Continuing to run away with the score, the Mustangs closed out the set 25-11 following a towering double block.

The fourth set opened up with an exchange of points that had the score tied at 4-4. Again tied at 9-9, York was looking for redemption following the fourteen-point loss in the earlier set.
 
Finally shaking off the Lions at 17-14, tall blocks and powerful attacks pushed the Mustangs ahead.
 
Unwilling to give up the set without a fight, York chipped away at the point deficit and pushed the Mustangs into a timeout at 22-20. The break proved to be enough for the Mustangs to refocus, and they finished the set at 25-22.
 
Veltman recorded a game high 23 points across the four sets played from 15 kills, one service ace, five solo blocks, and four assisted blocks. Following closely behind was fellow first year Gyimah, who recorded 18 points throughout the match. Veneta Mincheva topped York's scoresheet, pulling in 15 points.
 
The Mustangs are back in action Sunday, February 8 at Nipissing's Robert J Surtees Student Athletics Center. The match against the Lakers, scheduled to begin at 12 p.m., marks the final chance for the Mustangs to secure a place in the playoffs.