London, ON – The Mustangs picked up two very different wins in their opening weekend of the 2024 season against Guelph.
The Mustangs and Gryphons went the full five sets on Friday night and followed that up with a three-set sweep on Saturday night.
GAME RECAPS
Friday, Nov 1
The Mustangs opened the match with a solid effort, taking the opening set 25-17. Both sides kept things fairly close through the first half of the set, even being tied at 12-12 at one point. Western would go on a seven-point run after that point and were firmly in the lead, closing out the set win with a Lael Harrison kill.
The second set saw both sides trade points early on, with Western getting the advantage, but Guelph would make an 8-3 run midway through the set to tighten the score. The back half of the set would see both teams trade points back and forth, with the Gryphons taking a 25-22 set win and tying things up at 1-1.
The third set would be one of the closest of the entire match, with neither team capturing any extended runs. Guelph would take five points in the middle of the set to take a 13-10 advantage. Once again, it would be a consistent back-and-forth of points scored but Western would take the final two points of the set, taking a 25-23 win and move to a 2-1 advantage.
W?? END OF 3RD SET A close set the whole way goes in favour of the Mustangs as we take the set 25-23.
Emma Buntic has 7 kills and 30 total attacks on the night.
In the fourth set, the Gryphons would ride a 10-2 point run, moving from 8-8 to 18-10, and they would ride that momentum to a 25-19 set win and tie the game at 2-2.
The fifth set saw the Mustangs get the early momentum, getting a 12-3 point run, moving to 13-6 and feeling the advantage. Guelph responded by scoring nine of the next ten points and took a 15-14 lead. Western responded with four of the remaining five points, finishing the set and match with a Claire Stewart service ace and the 18-16 win.
W?? FINAL We take the W in style as Claire Stewart gets the ACE to secure an 18-16 5th set win.
1st year Outside Hitter Emma Buntic made an immediate impact for the Mustangs with ten kills, 43 total attacks, a service ace and nine digs in the win.
Saturday, Nov 2
A night after the five set win, the Mustangs looked to celebrate their head coaches birthday with a statement win and they did just that.
Western would go out to a big 16-4 lead early on in the opening set and would not allow the Gryphons to regroup and would finish out the first set securing the last four points of the set and taking it 25-13.
W?? END OF 1ST SET Mustangs come out with a dominant 25-13 win. Emma Buntic gets 6 kills for the Mustangs in the opener.
The second set would see some closer play in the opening half of the set, with points going back and forth through the midway point of the set, tied at 10-10 at one point. The Mustangs would put their foot on the gas after that point, Guelph would only score three more points the rest of the set while Western would finish out the set with a five-point run and secure a second consecutive 25-13 set win.
W?? END OF 2ND SET Mustangs take another 25-13 win. Lael Harrison finishes this one with an ACE! She had 9 kills tonight as well.
The third set saw both teams secure small chunks of points. Western would get a pair of four-point chunks in the early stages of the set and finished the set with five of the last six points and take the set 25-19 and the match 3-0.
W?? FINAL Western takes the 3rd set 25-19 and the straight-set win!
Rachel Gray led the Mustangs with 11 kills, 2 service aces & 29 total attacks.
The Mustangs trio of Rachel Gray, Lael Harrison & Emma Buntic had double digit kills, Gray with 11 and Harrison & Buntic with 10 each. Grey led the Mustangs with 29 total attacks.
NEXT GAME
The Mustangs are on the road next weekend when they head to Toronto for a pair of matches against the York. The Lions are 2&2 on the early part of the season. Fans can watch the action on OUA.tv
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