The Western Mustangs come into this game against TMU having played each other on October 27th with this match being the rescheduled second match. Despite fantastic effort from the Mustangs to secure one of the four sets, TMU takes the game win 3-1.
Western win the opening point of the first set but TMU quickly equalize, pushing ahead by two points. After TMU push five points ahead, a timeout is called by Western. Despite TMU pushing a few points ahead, the Mustangs maintain the pressure on the Bold. A kill from Ava Ebert puts another point on the board to close the point gap. A few points later, Devin Gerth finds the left-hand side of the court. Another timeout is called as the score hits 13-7 to TMU. Western win the first point coming out of the timeout as a kill from Gerth is not able to be returned by the Bold. A kill from Lael Harrison closes the point gap to six. Harrison follows up with another kill, finding an empty spot down the left-hand side of the court. After Western close the point gap to four, a timeout is called. The Mustangs win the first point coming out of the timeout with a block from Ava Ebert. A service ace from Devin Gerth closes the gap to two points. Lael Harrison gets a ball past the TMU block to make the game a one-point game. A few moments later, Harrison equalizes the game at 18-18, forcing a timeout by TMU. The teams equalize again at 19-19. Harrison gets another kill in the far left to push ahead in the points for the first time this set. TMU equalized again at 20-20. Both teams are working hard into the late half of this first set. TMU takes the opening set 25-22 after a ball tips over the net to find an empty spot on the Mustangs’ side. The stats at the end of the first set seed both teams equally match each other in blocks but with TMU just pushing ahead with 14 kills to Western’s 11.
A block from TMU puts the Bold on the board first. Despite TMU getting four points ahead, a kill from Devin Gerth closes the gap to three. Despite TMU pushing ahead in the points, a ball tipped over by Claire Stewart finds an empty spot in the court where no one is, making the score 10-7 to TMU. After a ball set by Claire Stewart, Lael Harrison adds another point to the Mustangs scoreboard. A contested service ace from Lael Harrison brings the Mustangs within two points of TMU. Devin Gerth gets the Mustangs within one. When the Bold get within six points of the set win, a timeout is called. The Mustangs maintain a close distance behind in the points. A kill from Gerth brings the Mustangs two points behind the Bold. Despite fantastic effort by Kylie Maxwell to keep the ball in play with TMU one point fro the set win, the Bold take the second set 25-20.
Despite TMU getting on the board early in this third set, Western respond by equalizing and pushing ahead in the points. Western lead coming towards the middle of the set. When the Mustangs push four points ahead, TMU call for a timeout. A huge block by Devin Gerth pushes the team three points ahead of the Bold. TMU take the point lead a few moments later. The Mustangs equalize at 20-20 after Lael Harrison gets a block to put the Mustangs back in the fight for the third set. The teams trade points coming out of the timeout called after the Mustangs equalize. TMU get within one point of the set win after a ball is sent out of bounds by Western. Lael Harrison tips the ball over the net to bring the Mustangs within one point. The Mustangs go on to equalize at 25-25, pushing the game into extra points. The teams equalize at 26-26 again. Western digs in deep to take set three with a final score of 29-27 after a huge block from Ava Ebert.
Western get on the board first in the third set. The Mustangs go on to maintain a point lead towards the middle of the set. A ball makes its way past the Mustang block to bring the Bold within one point. A ball tapped over by Jade Longlad increases that point gap back to two. After a kill from TMU, they equalize at 14-14 and a timeout is called. A kill from TMU wins them the first point coming out of the timeout. The teams trade points with both fighting for the ball. A kill from Claire Stewart puts the Mustangs back in the lead as the ball finds the far corner of the court. TMU push ahead again, coming within three points of the set win. A timeout is called. A cross-court kill from Devin Gerth brings the Mustangs back within two points of TMU making the score 22-20. Despite excellent effort from the Mustangs to put good points on the board in the fourth set, TMU take the fourth set 25-20.
The Mustangs take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves this Friday at 12:00pm in London at Alumni Hall.