WATERLOO, Ont. - Chris Newcombe and Bryn Ramsay combined for 30 points as the Western Mustangs defeated the Waterloo Warriors in an exciting four set contest (28-30, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23) on Saturday night at the PAC Gymnasium.
 
The win gives the Mustangs a 1-1 record after their season opening weekend, while the Warriors are 0-2 to start the year.
 
Newcombe led the Mustangs scoring efforts for the second consecutive night, tallying 16 points off 14 kills, a service ace, and two assisted blocks. He was close followed by 14 points from Ramsay, who contributed 11 kills, two aces, and two block assists in the win.
 
Braden Cok topped both sides of the score sheet on Saturday with 21 points for the Warriors. Three other players scored double digits for the home side, with Jordan McConkey (11.5 points), Kevin Lebreux (11 points), and Aidan Simone (10 points) all making their presence felt in the loss.
 
The opening set established the tone for the night as after the two sides traded points up to and through the 25 point mark. Each team fought off numerous attempts at set point before the Warriors were able to close things out with a 30-28 set win.
 
The second set would continue to be a tightly played affair with the Warriors holding only a one point lead at the technical timeout. Neither side could gain a significant advantage before the end of the frame, but the Mustangs were first across the finish line as a kill from Newcombe secured the set two win at 25-23.
 
Western took the momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 16-12 lead at the technical timeout. Waterloo began to push back following the break, but the Mustangs continued to build on their early lead and claimed a 25-18 victory.
 
The match returned to its point-for-point status early in the fourth set before the Mustangs built a bit of a cushion at 11-6. Waterloo answered back quickly, however, as two consecutive kills from Cok were followed up by a pair of blocks from the right side and Matthew Mawdsley.
 
Western took the lead for good on a kill from Ramsay to go up 20-19, and he would put the exclamation point on the win with the final point of the night to take the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.
 
The Mustangs now have a bit of a break in their schedule as they won't be back in action until Saturday, November 11, for the team's home opener against the Brock Badgers. Game time is set for 8 p.m. at Alumni Hall, and fans can purchase tickets online at westernmustangs.ca.