St. Catharines, ON – The Mustangs travelled to Brock for quarterfinal action Saturday evening, ultimately falling 3-1 to conclude their season.
The 2
nd seeded Badgers and 3
rd seeded Mustangs previously met once in the regular season, with Brock taking the contest 3-1.
Jonah Millard led the way for the Mustangs with 14 kills, as they were able to climb back and take the third set before dropping the fourth.
The first set saw the hosts get off to an early lead, however the purple and white were able to keep it close.
A kill by Blake Fenwick would tie things up at 19 for the 'Stangs, followed by kills from Jonah Millard to try and prevent a Badgers victory. Brock eventually took the set in close fashion 25-23 off of an attacking error.
Like the first, the second set remained a close affair to start and saw an exchange of points. Jackson Bere would put the Mustangs ahead 6-5, and followed it with a block to make it 7-5.
Kills from Jonah Millard and Josh Thorson helped extend the lead to 11-7, but the Badgers were able to battle back and held the lead 16-15 at the technical timeout.
Brock used their momentum to claim the second set 25-20.
Despite Brock leading for much of the start of the third, this one would go the way of the purple and white.
Down 16-9, a string of points by Amit Sayal, Millard and Bere would close the gap at 23-19. A Brock error and Josiah Esau ace would bring the 'Stangs even closer, while another attack error would give them a 25-24 lead.
Captain Sayal would claim the set for Western with a service ace and a final score of 26-24.
It was Western who got off to an early lead in the final set with a score of 15-8. Four consecutive points by the hosts would bring them back in it however, which they replicated later on to take the lead at 22-21.
The Badgers would take the set 25-23 and the match along with it as the Mustangs fell just short of forcing a decider.
The loss brings Western's season to a close, as they look to build off of a strong and unprecedented season next fall.
