Western Mustangs Fall to Brock Badgers On The Road

The Western Mustangs come into their first game against Brock this week after two solid wins last week against Waterloo. Despite putting good points on the board, the Brock Badgers took the game win in three sets. 
 
Western trail behind Brock early in the first set. Brock push to an early 10-1 point lead. A kill from Western and a ball sent out of bounds by Brock helps to close that point gap. Western calls a timeout when the score reaches 13-5 to Brock. Coming out of the timeout, a long rally results in Brock taking the point after finding an empty spot in the middle of the court. Brock continues to push ahead in the points despite Western working to close that point gap. The Brock Badgers take the opening set 25-11. 
 
Western take the opening point in the second set. Brock push ahead slightly in the points. A ball set by Hannah Joo allows Claire Stewart to get a kill that places the ball on the right-hand side of the court. The Mustangs make sure to not let the Badgers pull away in the points, maintaining a short distance behind. A ball tipped over the net by Western maintains the pressure on the Badgers. Lael Harrison brings the Mustangs within six points of the Badgers, causing a timeout and giving the teams a chance to reset. Brock gets within five points of the set win after a ball is sent out of bounds by Western. Despite this, Western go on to win the next two points to show that they are committed to maintaining the pressure on Brock. Although Western worked to put points on the board throughout the second set,  consecutive points won by Brock wins the Badgers the second set 25-15. 
 
The Badgers open the third set with three consecutive points won. Ava Ebert gets Western on the scoreboard by tapping the ball over the next which falls on the left-hand side of the court. Emily Tsiandoulas adds to Western’s score with a kill, putting the score at 6-2 to Brock. Brock push ahead in the points, extending their point lead to five. Lael Harrison gets two kills towards the middle of this third set helping the Mustangs find their feet in this third set. A service ace from Hannah Joo adds another point to Western’s score. Some miscommunication between the back line of the Mustangs causes a timeout called by Western. A ball that goes just long from the Mustangs puts the Brock Badgers within five points of the third set win. A kill from the Badgers finds the middle of the court after a long rally sees the Badgers win the third set 25-18, taking the game in three straight sets. 
 
The Mustangs will play Brock again tomorrow at 6:00pm in St. Catherines. Tune into OUA.tv to support the Mustangs.