GUELPH, ON - The Mustangs started the game uneasy but finished it strong. After a night of resilience, grit and mental toughness at the service line, Western is looking forward to playing in the Semi-finals next weekend.
Friday, February 20
GAME RECAP
The first set was tight right from the start, with both teams trading points and not giving much away. Western had a few nice moments at the net and even used a service ace and a block to swing the momentum back their way, but Guelph kept answering with clean swings in long rallies. Late in the set it was tied at 21–21, and every point felt huge. Guelph managed to find the floor on the next couple plays and closed it out with a strong finish at the net. The Gryphons took the first set 25–23.
Western came out way sharper in the second set and set the tone early with strong serving and quick points in transition. A big stretch in the middle saw Western pick up points off a block and a service ace, which really opened things up. Guelph tried to slow it down, but the Mustangs kept winning the longer rallies and didn't let the lead slip. The set ended with Western staying aggressive at the net and cleaning up the last few points. The Mustangs evened it up at 1-1 with a 25–19 win.
The third set flipped fast, and Western never really let go once they got rolling. A huge serving run that included multiple aces completely changed the game and forced Guelph out of system for several points in a row. The blocks also showed up big, shutting down attacks and turning defense into easy points the other way. By the time Guelph got back on track, the gap was already too big. Western cruised to a 25–10 win in the third.
In the fourth and last set, Guelph tried to push back early, but Western answered with steady side-outs and a couple big stops at the net to take control. The key moment came in the middle of the set when the Gryphons started to close the gap, and Western responded with a block and then a clean kill to stop the run. From there, Western stayed calm, passed well, and finished points when they needed to. They closed it out with strong play at the net to win the set 25–21 and took the match 3-1, rolling into the semi-finals.
NEXT GAME
Next Friday, the Mustangs are playing away in the Semi-finals against the Windsor Lancers! Stay tuned for game time announcements and join the stream on OUA.tv for a night filled with action!
