Mustangs defeat Nipissing Lakers 3-1 in second game of the weekend

London, ON – The Western Mustangs took on the Nipissing Lakers for the second time this weekend at Alumni Hall. The Mustangs were coming off a solid win yesterday and looked to secure another win today. 
 
Western got on the board early but a couple of net violations and balls going out of bounds put the Lakers ahead. Despite the Lakers pushing ahead in the points, two service aces from Rachel Gray tied the points at 6-6. Two consecutive kills from Devin Gerth and Rachel Gray seemed to give the team energy and they pushed ahead in the points. A timeout was called by the Lakers after the Mustangs pushed two points ahead. A double block from the Mustangs put the scoreboard at 9-13 to Western. After a series of blocks from Gerth and Stewart, Rachel Gray was able to find an empty spot on the court to send the ball into which added to the Mustangs’ point lead. The Mustangs found their stride late into the first set increasing the point gap to nine points. The Lakers were able to get a couple of points in an attempt to close the point gap. A double block from Thea Ishida and Ava Ebert put the Mustangs within one point of the set win. A kill from Ebert got the Mustangs the first set with the final score being 14-25 to the Mustangs. 
 
The Mustangs got on the board first in the second set when a ball was sent out of bounds by the Lakers. The Lakers equalised at 2-2 with a kill that went off the fingertips of the Mustangs and out of bounds. Two service aces from Devin Gerth put the Mustangs ahead in the points. A further kill from Robin Henshaw saw the Mustangs extend their point lead. The Lakers called for a timeout and came out of it with some energy and worked to close the point gap. Two service aces from Rachel Gray pushed the team ahead in the points, allowing them to maintain the point lead. The Lakers are able to equalise at 18-18 after a ball goes off Claire Stewart’s hand and out of bounds. A kill from Robin Henshaw put the Mustangs within five points of the set win. The Lakers got within two points of the set win and the Mustangs called for a timeout. The Lakers were able to take the second set win with a score of 25-23. 
 
The Mustangs came into the third set strong getting two points on the board early on. A service ace from Claire Stewart put the Mustangs ahead in the points with 3-4 on the board. A block from Ava Ebert extended that point lead and a service ace from Rachel Gray put the score at 4-7. The Mustangs were able to extend their point lead by five points causing Nipissing to call for a timeout. A net violation from the Lakers out of the timeout put the score at 6-12 to the Mustangs. The Mustangs get within five of the set win after a kill from Devin Gerth is unable to be returned by the Lakers. A tap over the net by Rachel Gray put the Mustangs within one of the set win. A kill from Gray two points later gives the set to the Mustangs. The final score of the set was 20-25 to the Mustangs. 
 
Claire Stewart tapped the ball over the net to put the Mustangs on the board first in the fourth set. The Lakers got some momentum early in the fourth set getting a few points ahead of the Mustangs. Although the Lakers pushed ahead in the points, after a timeout called by Western – the Mustangs worked to put pressure on the Lakers, catching up in the points. A kill from Claire Stewart and a double block from Stewart and Gerth put the team within one point of the Lakers which caused a timeout. A ball sent out of bounds by the Lakers equalised the score at 19-19. A double block form Claire Stewart and Rachel Gray put the Mustangs within four of the set win. A double block from Ava Ebert and Robin Henshaw got the Mustangs the fourth set and the game win. The final score at the end of the set was 22-25 to the Mustangs. 
 
The Mustangs will face the McMaster Marauders on January 12^th in Hamilton.