LONDON, ON – The Mustangs had an amazing night at home for the Bronze medal game. They stayed sturdy and persistent throughout the entire match to finish it with a 3-0 sweep against Nipissing. It was a very wholesome night for the boys, and they won with incredible dignity to top it off.
Friday, March 3
GAME RECAP
"We really talked about being calm, and it worked. They've matured as men to be able to handle hectic situations." Coach Sage
After a tough loss in the semi-finals last weekend, the Mustangs were back at Alumni Hall for the BRONZE medal match against Nipissing.
The game was an even start for the teams with a score of 6 all. Both teams were benefiting from each other's errors with a few service and attack errors. At 14-13, it was going very back and forth between the teams, with one getting a kill, then the other. After a service error and a nasty block by Western, the Lakers called a timeout at 16-13. Nipissing had a super cool serve receive with a pancake however, the Mustangs took the point with a kill at 18-14. Things were looking good for the Mustangs with a 4-point lead after a few kills at 21-17. Then at 23-18, the Lakers asked for a timeout in efforts to regroup. Western finished the set with a killer block at 25-18 to make it a 1-0 game.
"I am really happy for the younger guys on the team that will be able to experience what nationals is about." Coach Sage
The second set was a better beginning for the Mustangs with more consecutive kills and capitalizing off the Lakers errors. At 8-4, Nipissing called a timeout to try and reduce the gap. Western then had an insane quick attack straight down by Silon, followed up by a rally that Nipissing took with a kill at 13-8. Capitalizing off Westerns errors, the Lakers were beginning to catch up at 16-14, resulting in a timeout Western. However, the Mustangs were able to jump back in and claim back those few points with kills for days. At 22-16, the Lakers called another timeout. Western then took the set at 25-19 to make it a 2-0 game.
Set three began with the teams right behind one another at 8-7. The Lakers were on a roll and did not want to let the Mustangs get too far ahead. Western was able to gain a bit of leverage at 13-11, but the Lakers were able to offset it with a few kills at 13 all. The teams were really neck to neck with alternating points each play at 16-16. At 20-19, it was difficult to tell who this set was going to. The Lakers then took a timeout after a touch call at 21-19. With the last two points being all kills from the Mustangs, Nipissing called another timeout at 23-20. And with an attack error from the Lakers, the Mustangs took the Bronze medal game 3-0 at 25-21.
"Sweet way to end off the year at home, we are a little hungrier going into nationals because we know what to expect, but it was just great to end it on a positive note." Micheal Jones
KEY STATS
Kills – Cade Smith (10), Jayden Talsma (10), Cameron McGregor (9)
Blocks – Nicolas Silon (3), Jayden Talsma (3)
Digs – Andrew Kerkhoff (10), Cade Smith (6)
NEXT GAME
The Mustangs are headed to NATIONALS! Stay tuned for more updates.
