VOLLEYBALL NIGHT IN LONDON: BOTH MUSTANG TEAMS SWEEP LANCERS
With the victory, Western improves to 11-1, remaining in first place in the OUA West. Windsor falls to 1-11 and sits in last.
Sarah Farrell (London, Ont.) led both teams with 15 points and four solo blocks, while Elaine Screaton (Calgary, Alta.) had 14 points and six kills.
Jovana Stranatic's (Windsor, Ont.) led Windsor with eight points.
Even though the game looked lopsided entering the game on paper, the Lancers gave the injury-riddled Mustangs all they could handle early.
With middle Sarah Johnston (Stratford, Ont.) out of the line-up with a broken nose (week-to-week), Windsor gave Western fits early on taking leads of 3-2 and 5-4.
But Western's depth took over.
The Mustangs led at both technical timeouts at 8-7 and 16-15, but the Lancers fought back to tie it at 17. However, Western persevered and won the opening set 25-19, scoring six unanswered for the win.
In the second, the teams exchanged points early, but Western took the teams to the first side out at 8-6. Building a 12-8 lead, the Mustangs used sound defence to extend the lead to 16-8 and then to 23-14.
Serving, Sarah Lowry (Calgary, Alta.) nearly had an ace before scooped up two consecutive digs off the return, but the Lancers scored to give them some life at 24-16 Western.
But on the ensuing possession, Jenna Thomson (St. Mary's, Ont.) deceptive move with what looked like it was going to be a set with an attack over the net into open court 25-16.
The Mustangs scored the opening point of the third set and 5-0, extending the lead to 12-3 before Windsor showed better ball control to pull back within six at 13-7.
Western took the second technical time out with a 16-8 lead.
Extending the lead to 23-9, Western closed out the match winning the third set 25-10 when the Mustangs scored the winning point when Lancer Ana Vrcelj (Windsor, Ont.) served the ball long.
Jacqueline Robinson (Vancouver, B.C.) scored on a nice kill off a Stranatic serve to set up match point. Robinson then had a chance to win it serving but with Farrell and Caleigh Whitaker (Sharon, Ont.) blocking they were called for a double-hit. Vrceij's long serve happened on the next play.
Western travels to play Guelph and McMaster Jan. 16 and Jan. 17 respectively before hosting Brock on Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. at Alumni Hall.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
The Western Mustangs men's volleyball team improved to 8-3 with a sweep of the Windsor Lancers at Alumni Hall on Jan. 8. Western won by set scores of 25-19, 25-21, 25-18.
Eric Simon's (London, Ont.) cross-court kill set up match point and a Kyle Bryce (Guelph, Ont.) block sealed the victory. Bryce led Western with 20 points
Western moves into a tie for second place in the OUA with Queen's (8-2). McMaster remains in first place at 10-0.
In the first game, Western pulled out to an early 5-2 lead but Windsor pulled within one point before Nadan Omercajic (London, Ont.) pounded a kill to give the Mustangs the 8-6 lead at the first technical timeout.
The London, Ont., product had 12 points including five solo blocks. Reid Halpenny (Exeter, Ont.) added 11 points and Simon had 10 for the Mustangs.
Kyle Williamson (Essex, Ont.) paced Windsor with 9 points and seven digs, but also had five receiving errors.
Western led 11-6 with senior Andrew Hinchey (Oshawa, Ont.) serving. The Mustangs were able to extend their lead, but Windsor kept fighting back, getting as close as 22-17.
The Mustangs held off the charge, winning the opening set 25-19.
In the second, Western jumped out to an 8-5 going into the first technical timeout, but once again Windsor fought back and took a 10-8 lead off a Western net violation.
But veteran leadership calmed the Mustangs, as a menacing kill courtesy of Simon gave Western the serve and ended the Windsor rally.
Western led 16-15 at the second technical timeout and after a poor Lancers set from Josh Edwards (Seely, Ont.), Western led 23-19.
With set point, a rare serving miscue from Bryce allowed the Lancers a second chance, but with Edwards serving for the Lancers, the Western defence held off the Lancers for the 25-21 second-set win.
In the third, the Mustangs scored four straight points to take a 5-2 lead, but miscues on offence - particularly from outside hitters - allowed Windsor to climb back into the game.
Windsor took a 10-9 lead but Western capitalized on strong hitting and unforced Lancers errors to re-establish a 15-10 lead, eventually forcing a technical timeout at 16-11.
Bryce's wicked serving through the game continued late in the game as the Mustangs scored three straight for the 19-11 lead. Western led 22-15 and 23-17 before Simon cross-court kill which sets up match point at 24-18.
The Mustangs now prepare to host York on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at Alumni Hall before travelling to play Guelph and McMaster on Jan. 16 and Jan. 17 respectively.
Then Western returns home to host Toronto on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. and Ryerson on Jan. 24 at 3 p.m., with both games at Alumni Hall.
Source: Mustangs Athletics
Photo Credit: Craig Glover