Box Score TORONTO, ON – After a nearly two-month break, Western University returned to the court to face off against Ryerson University on Friday, January 10^th, earning a remarkable 3-2 set victory and starting the decade off on a high note.
 
Ryerson started the night off with possession, managing a number of consecutive serves before a kill by Western's Kristina Curcin granted her team the ball. After an impressive rally, Ryerson gained a point due to an unfortunate mix-up that took place on the Mustangs' side of the court. With the score resting at 6-10 for the Rams, Western's head coach Melissa Bartlett called the first timeout of the evening. Returning to the court, Western's Jessica Lam executed a successful floater serve, resulting in a Western point. As Ryerson began to pull away, the Mustangs' coaches signaled for their second timeout of the night while the Rams continued to hold onto theirs. The score rested at 12-16 after a regrettable rotation violation by Western gifted Ryerson the last point they needed to signal the first set's technical timeout. Both the Mustangs' offensive and defensive strategies were holding up to those of Ryerson as Western crept up with 15-18. In their efforts, the guest team appeared to be growing a bit careless in regard to technical violations as a Mustangs' net touch granted Ryerson their nineteenth point. The two teams met in a 20-20 tie before Western snatched two consecutive points from their opposition. Having remained neck-and-neck for most of the night, the end of the first set was no exception. With a tight end-score of 25-21, Western's Curcin was to thank for the team's winning point. 
 
After a serve by Western's Lam, her team helped themselves to the first point as the second set got started. Ryerson did not seem phased as they began their ascent away from the Mustangs with 2-5. After a long serve by Western, the Rams gained their third consecutive point, managing to pull away even further from the visiting team. Western's Melissa Langegger was in fine form tonight and her team knew it, attempting to feed her the ball whenever possible; nothing would stop Langegger as she barrelled through a barrier sitting on the side of the court, successfully managing to keep a play alive. Despite the Mustangs' extensive efforts though, Ryerson was still clinging to their lead with the scoreboard showing 11-16. Western returned from the technical timeout with enthusiasm, helping themselves to three almost immediate points and managing to lessen their distance from the Rams. With the score growing to 16-24, Ryerson helped themselves to an easy twenty-fifth point and took the second set.
 
With both Western and Ryerson holding onto one set victory, the stakes were increasing as the third set began. Managing to match each other point for point up until then, Ryerson finally began to take control as the score landed at 5-7. After a service error by the Rams, Western gained possession of the ball, but couldn't hold on. Returning the ball to Ryerson, the Mustangs continued to fall behind with the scoreboard showing 10-17. With an impressive solo block, Western's Langegger granted her team possession, a potentially game-changing move at this point in the evening. However, the Rams were not letting any setback stop their momentum as the score rose to 14-22 – an eight-point lead for Ryerson. With the game point in sight for the Rams, Western's Kate Ferguson took the server's position on the court. Despite their efforts, the Mustangs needed a bit more time than they had if they were looking to make a comeback; Ryerson scooped their last necessary point and took the third set with 16-25.
 
Continuing their momentum, Ryerson pulled away early on in the fourth set with 3-5. For the first time tonight, Western's Coach Bartlett brought in Mustang Carly Kimmett, likely with the hope that the fourth-year player could manage to turn things around for the team; Kimmett rose to the call of duty, quickly racking up three points and pushing the score to 10-7. The Rams stole possession of the ball and hung on after a double touch call against the Mustangs, using this advantage to meet the visiting team in a tie of 12-12. The teams continued to mirror each other as the score entered into the twenties. With the scoreboard showing 21-20, Ryerson called for a timeout, potentially attempting to put a halt to Western's momentum. After a beautiful serve by Mustang Kate Van Camp, the visiting team finally managed to break the cycle and pulled ahead to 24-20. The Rams refused to become flustered by this turn of events, managing two more points before the Mustangs happily claimed their ticket to a fifth set redemption with a close final score of 25-22.
 
With two set victories each, the fifth set held the overall outcome of the game for Western and Ryerson as they met on the court for one last time that night. As they had all game, both teams continuously one-upped each other until the Rams finally managed to break the tie despite a line violation; the score paused at 5-7 as the first timeout of the fifth set was called. As Western's Lam stepped up to serve, the score rose to 11-10 with an overenthusiastic Ryerson ball flying out of bounds. Seemingly acting as the Mustangs' secret weapon, Kimmettlanded an impressive kill and led her team to their first two-point lead of the fifth set. With the score pausing at 13-11, Ryerson's coaches signaled for their final available timeout tonight. As they had all night, the Rams came out of the huddle focused and ready to play, quickly scooping three points and meeting Western at 14-14. With tensions high, Western's Coach Bartlett chose then to call for her last timeout. Mirroring each other until 16-16, Western kicked it into high gear and earned their last two points needed to take this set with 18-16 and ultimately, the night's overall victory.
 
The Mustangs will return to London to play against Queen's University on Friday, January 17^th at 6:00PM. Catch the action live at Western's Alumni Hall or online here.