KINGSTON, Ont. – The Mustangs relied on Candice Scott and Kelsey Veltman to both stifle and respond to one of the OUA's strongest offensive teams on Saturday night, and the duo did not disappoint. The starting middles carried Western to a four set victory (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-19) over the Queen's Gaels for their fifth straight win.
 
Veltman's 19.5 points led the team, while Scott recorded 17.5 – five of which were service aces. Rookie Melissa Langegger was a standout in the backcourt, with a team-high 14 digs.
 
However, it was Queen's that would have the highest scoring athlete of the night, with captain Caroline Livingston recording 23 points.
 
With the win, the Mustangs remain undefeated and at the top of the OUA West. Queen's record falls to 2-3, good for fourth place in the East Division.
 
Western came out on top in the first set, but they had to fight their way through substantial point deficits that were deepened by unforced purple and white errors.
 
Five points were awarded to the Gaels through Mustangs service errors, while Queen's managed to put every serve over the net and within the confines of the court. The performance of Livingson only increased the level of competition on the floor and kept the Western score down, with the eventual Queen's point leader responsible for four of the team's nine kills.
 
However, little else compared to the first set showing from Candice Scott. While her serving has become a subject of focus in the past, the first set showcased her abilities at the net. The fifth-year veteran led the offensive effort with five kills, while adding one solo and one assisted block to the scoreboard.
 
With solid defensive coverage that saw the Gaels struggle to find open floor while Western thrived, the Mustangs secured a first set win by a score of 25-22.
 
The Gaels were more consistent throughout the second set, this time able to maintain their lead right up to the 25-point mark.
 
Improved accuracy on the attack would be the game-changer for Queen's, with reduced errors and another 14 kills. Livingston continued to be the engine, as she was responsible for six of the 14. Also challenging the Mustangs was Victoria Wensley.  
 
Western struggled to respond to the improved offensive effort, falling behind the Gaels to end the set at 23-25.
 
Set three saw the Mustangs open their biggest lead of the game across the initial three sets, building a five-point cushion after Gyimah and Veltman took over at the net and the Gaels racking up errors on the serve.
 
Unlike the previous two sets, one team led the scoreboard for the entire game. Western's lead grew and shrunk, but was never completely erased or even matched.
 
Gyimah was arguably the difference, as she was back to her usual level of performance after a quiet first two sets in her first game since a two-match hiatus. Matheson also had one of her best performances in the third set, with Queen's consistently unable to read the Vancouver native's patterns.
 
Western closed out the third with a four-point run – three of which were served by Gyimah – with Veltman and Matheson recording two kills apiece for a solid 25-19 win.
 
The fourth set saw the fastest start for the Mustangs, with a six-point lead in effect by the time Western hit the eight-point mark.  
 
Livingston pushed the Gaels within two points of Western with her high powered attack and a handful of blocks, but one standout performance wasn't enough to stifle the Mustangs. The well-rounded purple and white offense was what allowed Western to thrive, as athletes found open court from every front row position on the floor.
 
Queen's was forced into calling a timeout when the Mustangs had built up a 21-18 lead, but the brief break wasn't enough to slow Western's growing momentum. A three point-run closed out the final set, with the Mustangs walking off the floor with a 25-19 victory to take the game.  
 
The Mustangs return to Alumni Hall next weekend, when they host the Lakehead Thunderwolves for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.