LONDON, Ont. – A thrilling four set game on home court saw the Mustangs topple the Ryerson Rams with a final score 3-1 (25-14, 24-26, 25-23, 25-23).
The Mustangs headed into the game with a new found confidence after a key game against the Varsity Blues, noted Setter #Jessica Lam#. "We knew we had to come in and play our game, we just came off a big win against Toronto last night so we really tried to channel that energy and how we played last night into today, and just rest up and really focus on executing our game and not worrying about who's on the other side of the net" stated Lam.
Ryerson came into the match undefeated, sitting atop the OUA East division as the reigning OUA and U SPORTS champions. The Ram's deep roster of strong offensive hitters makes them one of the most challenging opponents in the OUA.
"They have a lot of weapons they can rely on, so a lot of teams have two or three attackers, or maybe one or two they can really key on, they have 5 or 6 that they can rotate through. So it's tough to really focus on defending one player, so it really puts a lot of stress on your entire defensive system" noted Mustangs Head Coach Melissa Bartlett.
Ram's Cailin Wark, Theanna Vernon, Brett Hagarty and Lauren Veltman proved this to be true, each contributing to Ryerson's overall kill count throughout the four sets.
Starting the opening set with vigor and efficiency, the purple and white went back and forth with the Ram's to start, eventually pulling away and then maintaining a lead for the remainder of the set.
Middle #Kelsey Veltman# proved her dominance in the set, leading the frame with five kills and consistently taking charge of the Mustangs offense and defensive efforts. Veltman would be a keystone for the Mustangs all game, alongside left side #Kate Van Camp#.
"We had two players that were scoring so effectively, our Middle Kelsey [Veltman] and then our rookie left side Kate [Van Camp], so they really lead the team and they were just lights out all night" noted Bartlett.
The Mustangs would hold control for the entirety of the set and eventually pulling away to take it 25-14.
After dropping the first set Ryerson came into the second frame looking energized, with fewer serving errors and more efficient offensive looks. Trailing the first third of the set, Western proceeded to equalize and overtake the Rams, always leading by a couple points as the frame went on.
With well placed attacks, the Mustangs continued to pick apart the Rams defense with Van Camp making her mark in the set by registering six kills.
The Mustangs efficient offense proved to be one of their strongest points, describes Lam: "we passed really well, free balls were phenomenal, just in general executing our game plan. And then offensively I felt like everyone was calling for the ball and we had so many openings that it was easy to set."
Momentum picked up for the Rams as the set went on, especially for Vernon who picked up six kills throughout the set and would continue to be dominant for Ryerson the rest of the game.
In the last five points the Rams equalized, overtaking Western at 24-23. A short set and a well placed kill from Veltman allowed the Mustangs to tie it up once again, bring the close set to 24 points all around. Two attacks from the Rams gave Ryerson the set, with the finishing kill from Vernon.
The third set proved to be the closest yet with both sides trading the lead, but always within three points of each other.
Once again, the last five points of the frame would prove to be the most crucial. The Mustangs managed to notch a 23-20 lead – their most significant of the set. Vernon once again equalized for the Rams with two kills, marking both teams with 23 points each.
After a kill from Van Camp, her seventh of the set, and a final block from Middle #Kristina Curcin#, the purple and white would take the third set 25-23.
With the win in sight, the purple and white opened up the frame leading the Rams, at one point with a 11-7 score. The score equalized at 16 points per side, which would once again start a gripping back and forth match up until the very end of the match.
#Melissa Langegger# would be a key component for Western, stepping up and making momentum shifting plays for the Mustangs recording six of her nine kills of the match in the last set. The third year Left Side was by far the most dominant in serving of any player on the court, picking up seven aces across the four sets.
The last few points proved to be critical as the Mustangs found themselves tied at 23 points with the determined Rams. An ace from Van Camp would set up the Mustangs to go to game point, leading them to solidify their win with a 25-23 score after a Ryerson error.
The win marks a boost of confidence for the Mustangs, taking down two of the most notorious teams in the OUA after two tough games the previous week, notes Lam. "It shows our resilience, we had a tough weekend last weekend playing both Guelph and Waterloo, and going down two and coming back into this weekend and gaining confidence of beating two teams that are top team in the nation. That really put some confidence under our belt and goes into next weekend."
"It's a boost of confidence to beat two top ten ranked teams back to back, I think for our team it sets a new standard of performance in striving to be better each week" agrees Bartlett.
The Mustangs will be back in action this Friday, November 23 2018, as they head to Windsor, Ont. to take on the Windsor Lancers.
