LONDON, Ont. - Fourth-year outside hitter Evan Cranshaw tallied a team-high 14 points to go along with eight digs in Western's 3-2 loss to the Toronto Varsity Blues in the OUA quarterfinals.

Fifth-year Evan Hammond also had a stellar game to conclude his university career, chipping in 10 points and eight kills on the evening. Matt Hooker also helped carry the Mustangs' point production, leading the team with 33 assists.

"We fought hard tonight, but we just didn't adapt quite quickly enough," said Mustangs head coach Jim Sage. "All you can ask from your guys is for them to give it their all and if it doesn't work out, that's just the nature of sport, but we got everything out of our guys tonight. It's a shame because we had the talent and character to go a little bit further, we just ran into another special program in Toronto."

Toronto was led by Chris Towe, who led the way with 18 points and 15 kills on the evening.

"They played great today and they gave us a really tough game, they earned the win," said Hammond. "They threw out some adjustments that we were expecting, but we just didn't react quick enough in some areas. It was a well-played game, but they happened to come out on top this time around."

Toronto controlled the beginning of the opening set, as a number of errored serves added up against the purple and white. However, consistent play from libero Nathan Phelps kept the Mustangs in the set midway through the frame. Western continued to battle back, but the athleticism from Toronto in the first set was simply too much to overcome as they eventually fell 25-21 heading into the second set.

Although the second set was initially tightly contested, the momentum seemed to belong solely to Western as time went on, as the Mustangs built up a convincing lead midway through the frame behind a string of Toronto errors. The strong play from the purple and white continued to the end of the set, as they cruised to the eventual 25-12 win to tie the game at one set apiece.

Western continued to ride the play of Cranshaw into the third, as the Mustangs began to expose the Varsity Blues with consistency. However, Toronto refused to submit, as the Varsity Blues eventually stormed back midway through the set to regain the lead. Toronto began to find their points through the serve late in the set, but a final push from the purple and white gave them the slim 25-21 victory and a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth.

The Mustangs struggled to carry that same momentum into the fourth, as Toronto built an early lead by exposing the holes in Western's formation. However, Cranshaw would once again fuel the Mustangs' momentum behind his calm veteran presence. But despite the late run from the purple and white, the Varsity Blues would eventually force a fifth set following a 25-21 victory.

Toronto controlled the opening moments of the final frame, as they grew a substantial lead to challenge a Western comeback. Cranshaw once again carried the momentum for the purple and white, lifting the scoring with his play around the net as the Mustangs clawed back into the game. However, the final push would have Western come up just short as they fell in the final set 15-8 to take the game 3-2.

"We were lucky to have so many great leaders tonight to keep us in the game and all season long," said Sage. "Matt Hooker has been amazing as a setter, as a leader, and as a captain. He's had a great career and you just can't replace a guy like that. Evan Hammond is a force to be reckoned with out on the floor and he gives you everything he has every game. We're lucky to have all our seniors. They helped us tonight and they've done it their entire careers."

"It's been awesome to be a Mustang for these past five years," said Hammond. "My teammates of the past and present have formed a bond that most people don't get to experience. It's been great. I've made a lot of brothers along the way and I'll continue to carry them with me over the years."

With the loss, the Mustangs end their season in the OUA quarterfinal round after finishing second in the OUA West division to conclude the regular season.