London, ON - The Western Mustangs faced off against the Royal Military College of Canada Paladins on Saturday night. The Mustangs went on to win the match in three straight sets.
Jackson Bere led both teams in kills for the night with 9 while Josiah Esau led both teams in digs with 9. Josiah Esau also led the Mustangs in service aces with 3.
The first set began fairly close with the two teams alternating points until the score stood tied at 3. A service ace from Amit Sayal gave Western a 6-4 lead which the Mustangs were quick to build on with a big kill from Brady Fidler as they charged ahead to a 10-4 lead. A kill from Evan Cranshaw continued to grow Western's lead to 13-7. The Mustangs grew their lead to 15-7 after a big double block from Evan Cranshaw and Jackson Bere. A kill on a ball over the net from Jackson Bere brought the score to to 16-8 for the Mustangs heading into the technical timeout. With the scoreboard showing 20-11 Jack Cochran was substituted in for Western to serve. Strong serving from Amit Sayal, a triple block from the Mustangs, and a kill from Jackson Bere allowed Western to take a 25-13 victory. The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the match.
A big double block from Amit Sayal and Ryan Scott early in the second set contributed to a 2-0 lead for the Mustangs. The Paladins were quick to answer back as they shortened the Mustangs' lead to 4-3. Back to back kills from Jackson Bere and Amit Sayal extended Western's lead to 8-4. Another double block from Amit Sayal and Ryan Scott brought the score to 12-8 heading into a Paladins' timeout. A kill from Ryan Scott brought the score to 16-11 and Jack Cochran was substituted in to serve. A triple block from Amit Sayal, Jackson Bere, and Blake Fenwick extended the Mustangs' lead to 19-11. Two kills from Jackson Bere, a service ace from Blake Fenwick, and a kill from Jason Guy brought the score to 23-15. Western went on to win the second set 25-17 and taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Mustangs took an early 5-1 lead in the third set against the Paladins. The Paladins began to chip away at the Mustangs' lead, but a kill from Jackson Bere gave Western back the serve with a score of 8-3. The Paladins struggled to defend against Blake Fenwick's serving allowing the Mustangs to grow their lead to 10-4. Back to back service aces from Josiah Esau brought the score to 15-7. The Paladins came out of the technical timeout energized and began the difficult task of trying to shorten the Mustangs' lead to 17-10. Back to back kills from Nick Prokopich and Blake Fenwick brought the score to 20-11. A kill from Blake Fenwick extended the Mustangs' lead to 21-12 when Josh Thorson was substituted in to serve. With the scoreboard showing 23-12 the Paladins called a timeout, but it did nothing to stop the Mustangs' momentum as they went on to win the set 25-13.
The men will go on the road to face the Trent University Excalibur on January 31st at 7:00pm where they hope to build off of tonight's performance.
