Box Score Guelph, ON – For the second weekend in a row the Mustangs made their way to Guelph, this time they pushed the Gryphons but ultimately fell 3-2 in five sets.
Western controlled the early portion of the first set, taking the first four points. The Mustangs held on to that pressure and went on to open up a 19-11 lead which forced the Gryphons to call a time-out. The Mustangs would continue the momentum en route to the 25-14 win to take the first set. Blake Fenwick led the Mustangs with 4 kills in the set.
The second set was much closer as both teams traded points throughout the early part of the set, with neither said taking a sizeable lead throughout the first half of the set. The same scoring continued through the remainder of the set, to the point that both sides were tied at 25-25 and we would see some extra play to determine a winner. After both side traded points, the Gryphons were able to get the final two points of the set to finish with the 28-26 set win and even things up at 1-1.
In the third set, both sides would remain close early. The Mustangs would make a push mid-set and opened up a five-point lead at 15-10 on a Kill by Fenwick. Western would continue their push including a five-point run, taking the score from 17-12 to 21-12. The Mustangs would hold on to the second-half momentum in the set and go on to with 25-16 and take the 2-1 set lead.
The fourth set mirrored the third set with both teams trading points with limited point streaks for either side, with both deadlocked even from 11-11 through 16-16. The tight play would continue all the way until the set point as Guelph would get the final two points and win the fourth set 26-24 and push the match to a fifth and final set.
In the fifth set, the early part of the set saw both sides battle for points and it remained extremely tight throughout. The Gryphons opened up a three-point lead to move to 10-7 and after trading points, they would hold that lead and take the fifth set 15-12 and the match 3-2.
Fenwick led the Mustangs on the night with 24 kills, 45 total attacks and services aces.
The Mustangs move to a 6-5 record with the loss and return to Alumni Hall next Friday night when they will take on the Brock Badgers for an 8:00 PM start. Fans can get their tickets at WesternMustangs.ca/Tickets.
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