TORONTO – The Mustangs will have the opportunity to medal for the fourth-straight season tomorrow, as they compete for bronze after a semifinal loss to the Rams (25-21, 16-25, 18-25, 16-25).
 
"Our execution of our gameplan was exactly where we wanted it to be, I think we had a little bit of an emotional edge at the start of the [first] set," said Mustangs head coach Melissa Bartlett. "That was a really fun first set, unfortunately we couldn't maintain our gameplan execution for the rest."
 
"I credit my team, they trained hard all week and we really focused hard on the game plan, but I think we almost knew it too well. We were trying to be a little too perfect, really making too many unforced errors, and against a good team like that those points can cost you."
 
Kelsey Veltman led the Mustangs on the score sheet with 16.5 points, from 12 kills, two aces, one solo block, and three assisted blocks. Lauren Veltman would be the highest scoring player in the match, registering 20 points for the Rams.
 
Western would take an early lead in the first set thanks to the efforts of Kelsey Veltman, riding the momentum to a 25-21 win.
 
Kelsey Veltman got it started for the Mustangs with a pair of aces and several kills registering on the scoresheet before the technical timeout. However, the Rams would slowly adjust to her hitting style and limit her effectiveness as the end of the set drew closer.
 
Rookie Lindsay Klueskens, though relatively quiet offensively, was a big presence at the net. She got in the way of two attacks in the first set for a pair of points off the block, and forcing the Mustangs to change up their game plan.
 
Kristina Curcin stepped in to act as the primary threat as Veltman adjusted to the block, as the duo was responsible for the majority of first set points.
 
At the peak of their lead, the Mustangs would have a nine point advantage on the Rams. Ryerson worked to shave down their deficit before the end of the set, but Curcin would bring an end to the attempt with a kills for a 25-21 win.  
 
The Rams opened up the second set with strong serving and an improved offensive presence to keep the score far closer than seen in the opening set. Lauren Veltman and Janelle Albert would combine to carry the Rams into the technical timeout, and eventually into a 20-13 lead.
 
Lauren Veltman continued to play a substantial role in the Ryerson offence, especially with the rallies stretching longer and longer. Regardless of whether she went line or cross-court, the second-year Ram was able to consistently end the back-and-forth in favour of the home team.
 
The Mustangs would try to replicate Ryerson's late burst in the first set after finding themselves down by seven points, with Curcin and Kate Ferguson taking the lead at the net. Western's starting middles were able to cause some problems for the typically effective Ryerson lineup, but weren't able to slow down the Rams.
 
Ryerson would come away with a 25-16 win, which can be largely credited to the defensive work of libero Julie Longman. Longman has been a standout on the floor over the last few years, consistently making a difference in matchups against Western.
 
Her defensive performance was only outshone by one other player on the floor – Mustang libero Courtney Sestric.
 
Sestric would ultimately be the most consistent player on the Mustangs end of the court throughout the entirety of the match, as she continually made highlight-reel plays to extend the rally.
 
Cailin Wark and Lauren Veltman were making Sestric work particularly hard in the third as he Rams flexed their offensive strengths.
 
Strong serving would help the Rams stay afloat, giving up only two points while Kleuskens earned a pair of aces to even the difference. The same can't be said for Western, who sent three balls out of bounds or into the net.
 
The Rams broke away and separated themselves from the purple and white score with a seven-point run. The two teams had previously been separated by only one point (7-6) when a Mustang service error gave the serve back over to the Rams.
 
Klueskens would earn both her aces in the run, maintaining composure and serving through a timeout and Mustang substitution.
 
Ryerson's lead carried them through the remainder of the set, taking a 25-18 win.
 
Another point run from the Rams would set the tone early in the fourth and final set, as they rattled off five straight to force an early timeout from Western. Curcin came through with a kill to get the Mustangs on the board, but Ryerson soon took back control of the set.
 
Three consecutive points gave the Rams a seven-point lead at 8-1, from which point the two teams traded points fairly consistently. Neither team was able to put up more than two in a row after that, preventing the Mustangs from catching up to the Rams on the scoreboard.
 
Western's play improved later in the set, with Curcin particularly standing out in the front row and Sestric continuing to serve as the primary asset in the back.
 
Ryerson would eventually take the fourth set by a score of 25-16, securing their place in the OUA Gold Medal Game tomorrow.
 
The Mustangs will compete for bronze, with their opponent determined by the outcome of this evening's matchup between McMaster and Toronto.
 
"We've been [to the bronze medal game] twice in the past four years and ending your season on a win, winning an OUA medal, is something to be very proud of," said Bartlett. "It's going to hurt, we're a little disappointed, but we'll regroup for tomorrow and be ready to play."
 
Game time for the bronze medal match is set for 3 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, with live streaming available on OUA.tv