London, ON – The Mustangs welcomed the Varsity Blues to Alumni Hall Sunday afternoon where they took home a 3-1 win to sweep their weekend series.
Western topped Toronto in a five-set thriller on Saturday night, as they looked to replicate the result in what they expected to be another tough battle. After dropping the opening set 25-16, the Mustangs rallied to take the next three 25-23, 25-23, and 25-19. Blake Fenwick had 13 kills while Jonah Millard and Jason Guy both followed with 9.
"A lot of resiliency and battle," said head coach Jim Sage on his team's win. "We told them [Toronto] was coming for us, and you could see it in the first set. We always use the analogy of a fistfight. It's a war, it's a battle. We have to throw the first punch, and we didn't. I said, 'are we going to take this?' And then the response was really good."
"We knew after yesterday they were going to come hungry and that they needed a win and we would see a different team," added middle Jonah Millard. "They started off really hot and threw the first punch. After that first punch we said, 'we acknowledge it and we need to change it right now'. We all stuck together and said let's do what we do and play our game. Let's be proactive not reactive and not play their game. We did that and stuck with it and it was just sticking together and turning the tides."
The Mustangs got out to a 3-1 lead in the first set before Toronto came firing back with four consecutive points to claim the lead for themselves.
After taking the lead, the Varsity Blues didn't let up and continued to fire eventually doubling up on Western at 18-9 in dominant form. The purple and white couldn't climb back and ultimately dropped the set 25-16.
The two sides exchanged points to start the second, before the purple and white put together a run with Josiah Esau serving that saw the visitors call timeout at 6-2 off a Kendall Homenick kill.
Kills from Jason Guy and Jonah Millard helped to extend the lead, while a big block from Esau and Millard energized the crowd at 11-6.
With the women's volleyball team loudly vocalizing their support from the sidelines after a match of their own, kills from Fenwick and Amit Sayal put the 'Stangs in control at 21-17.
"It's such a big deal," said Millard on the crowd support. "We all love and appreciate it. There was an awesome environment last night and even today. The support from family, friends and the women's team does so much. We feed off of it and love it. It's the best part about playing at Western."
Fenwick eventually finished off the set for Western at 25-23.
With things staying close to start the set, the Mustangs put together a five-point run to take a mild lead at 10-5.
A kill from Guy extended the lead to six at 16-10, which Sayal later restored at 18-12. The Varsity Blues claimed the next four of six points, cutting their deficit to four points as they looked to produce a comeback.
Later, a powerful kill from Millard then followed by a block with Esau gave set-point to the 'Stangs. Toronto pushed back within one but handed the set to Western 25-23 off of a service error.
Finding themselves down 7-3 to begin the fourth set, kills from Fenwick and Guy alongside a trio of Toronto errors brought the purple and white within one at 10-9. Two big plays from Fenwick eventually handed the Mustangs the lead at 12-11 as they looked to close this one out in four.
"It's a team response," said Sage on his team's ability to win three straight sets after dropping the first. "It's not relying on Jason [Guy] to carry us, or relying on Amit [Sayal] to do all the work. It has to be Blake [Fenwick], Kendall [Homenick], Jonah [Millard]. Then it was nice to see in the fourth set keep[ing] that gap, and then wow."
Coming off the bench to serve, Jack Cochran produced an ace to hand Western a two-point cushion at 17-15. The Mustangs took four of the next six to lead 21-17 with victory in sight. Millard put a win within reach at 24-19 which they then claimed on the next point to officially complete the weekend sweep against Toronto and keep their playoff hopes alive.
"Gigantic," said Sage on the importance of sweeping the weekend. "We're either almost done, with a sliver of hope if we lost those two. A split we'd be maybe. But winning two against the number six seed in Canada was huge. I said to the guys, 'where has this been? This is us!'"
With the win Western improves to 9-6 on the season while Toronto drops to 10-5. The Mustangs now look to next weekend where they will hit the road to Kingston for a series against the Gaels.
"We can be proud of ourselves for this [win] but it's back to work on Monday," said Millard. "Queen's is a great team and we are battling for a playoff spot with them so it's back to the drawing board and having a hard week of practice. We need to be proud of what we've done but not be complacent and too happy with it. There is still work to be done and we have to get two wins in Kingston."
"We still have a tough schedule to go but [the win tonight] gives us some light and purpose," concluded Sage. "We will see what can happen."
The Mustangs are next in action on Friday, February 3
rd, where they will travel to Kingston to take on Queen's. Game time is set for 8pm and will be available to watch on OUA.tv
