Kingston ON – The Mustangs travelled to Kingston Friday night where they opened up their weekend series with a 3-2 loss against Queen’s.
Western took the opening set 25-13 before dropping the second 25-20. Western then took the third 25-16, while the hosts forced a fifth set by winning the fourth 25-23. The Gaels won the fifth set 15-10.
Janelle Albert led the way for Western with 23 kills and 5 service aces. Rachel Gray followed with 8 kills while Ava Ebert had 7.
Powerful serving from Janelle Albert, which included her first ace of the match, got the ball rolling early on for the ‘Stangs as they took a 6-2 lead to start.
A kill from Albert followed by another ace would see the Mustangs go up 15-8 over the hosts, as they called a timeout looking to regroup. The timeout did not stifle the Brampton native’s momentum however, as she secured two consecutive aces moments later to bring her first-set total to four.
A block by Hannah Joo gave set-point to Western, which Kylie Maxwell secured off the bench for the Mustangs with an ace of her own for a 25-13 set win.
The Mustangs called timeout early on in the second set as they found themselves down 4-0 to start. Western took the next three points to come back within one point.
With the scoreboard reading 10-7 for the Gaels, the purple and white took three of the next four to once again cut their deficit to one. However, it would be Queen’s who would continue to fire, limiting Western to one point of the next six to reclaim a slight gap at 16-11.
With Mya Newton serving, the Mustangs managed to claw back and tie things up at 16, but Queen’s continued to fire on, taking the next six points consecutively, as they eventually took the set 25-20.
The team’s split points to start to keep things close early on in the third before the purple and white found a three-point lead at 7-4. The Gaels took six of the next seven points to lead 10-8, causing Western to call a timeout.
Ava Ebert and Albert tied things up for the ‘Stangs at 10, as the sides continued to go back and forth.
More powerful serving from Albert, including another ace, saw the Mustangs take a slight lead at 15-12, which they looked to extend. They were able to do just that, as they held the hosts to only four more points to take the set 25-16.
The two sides exchanged points to start the fourth before Queen’s found a 9-5 lead on their hunt to force a fifth set.
An ace from Jaeya Brach brought the ‘Stangs within two at 14-16, before they tied things up by taking the next two points.
Queen’s and Western continued to exchange points, keeping things tied. Sitting even at 22, the hosts took the next two points to give themselves set point. They secured the set 25-23.
Kills from Devin Gerth and Albert put the purple and white ahead 2-1 to start the deciding set, before Queen’s doubled up on the ‘Stangs at 8-4.
Despite their efforts, the Mustangs couldn’t come back and ultimately dropped the set 15-10 and the match along with it.
With the loss Western drops to 13-3 on the season while Queen’s improves to 11-4 and extends their win streak to six games.
The Mustangs and Gaels will face off again Saturday night to conclude the weekend with first-serve set for 6pm in Kingston. The action will be available to watch on OUA.tv
This article is shared as part of our Fair Dealing Policy. For the original article, please visit: https://westernmustangs.ca/news/2023/2/4/womens-volleyball-mustangs-fall-3-2-on-the-road-to-the-gaels.aspx
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