Code, Cooney lead Badgers to thrilling five-set win over Mustangs

In front of an energetic Bob Davis gymnasium crowd, the Brock Badgers completed a reverse sweep of the Western Mustangs. 

The men’s volleyball team improved their record to 13-3 to stay tied on top of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings after a 3-2 win (19-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21, 15-10) on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Outside hitters Kylar Code and Devin Cooney finished with over 20 points, with Code earning a game-high 24.5 and Cooney notching 24. Sauli Lianga came off the bench in the third set and finished with nine kills and two blocks. Senior setter Grant Reddon dished out 57 assists while Code led the defence with eight digs.

The visiting Mustangs came out strong in the first set, taking a 12-9 lead and forcing a Badgers’ timeout. Jacob Ferland had emphatic kills from the middle as he tried to bring Brock back closer in the match. A double block from Western caused Brock to call a second timeout down 22-18. It was not enough as the visitors came away from the first set 25-19.  

In the second, Western came out with high energy once again, causing a Badgers’ timeout up 8-3. Whenever the Badgers gained some momentum from their attacking, they were unable to string multiple points together to secure a comeback. Cooney’s ace brought the Badgers within four at 22-18, which was the closest they would get as they fell by the same score as the first.  

Brock flipped a switch in the third, feeding off the energy from Code and the crowd to take a 9-5 lead and forcing Western’s second timeout of the entire match. Five blocks in the set fueled the fans, who belted out in jubilation every time a Western attack was sent back. Code’s four kills and strong serving run led the Badgers to a 25-15 third set victory. 

After Brock took an early lead, the Mustangs fought back to tie the fourth set at 11-11. A Brock run highlighted by Code’s 14^th kill gave them a 15-11 advantage which was followed by a Western timeout. The Mustangs fought back to within two down 20-18, forcing the Badgers to call their own timeout. Kills from Cooney and Code late in the set helped propel the Badgers to a 25-21 win in the fourth, leading to a fifth and deciding set. 

In the final frame, Western got up early 4-2, but the Badgers controlled the pace of play from that moment. A huge block from Ferland and Lianga helped tie things at four. A four-point run gave the Badgers an 8-4 advantage, and they did not look back, winning 15-10. Cooney was spectacular in the fifth, notching three kills late to seal it. 

During the Mental Health Awareness game, resources were shared with the Brock community in support of the Bell Let’s Talk campaign that helps create positive change for mental health in Canada.

Up next, the Badgers (13-3) will take on the No. 3 McMaster Marauders (12-4) in Hamilton at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2. You can watch the action on OUA.tv.