The Western Mustangs took on the Waterloo Warriors today in the first round of the playoffs. Last game, Head Coach Melissa Bartlett talked about the fact that the team had “nothing but confidence heading into the playoffs” and that was certainly reflected in today’s performance. The team went on to win the game 3-1 and will be progressing to the next round of the playoffs.
Waterloo gets on the board first but Western quickly equalize with a service ace from Devin Gerth. The teams trade points early on into the first set with Western pushing ahead slightly. An attacking error from Waterloo puts Western four points ahead, forcing Waterloo into a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Western push ahead in the points. A kill from Robin Henshaw adds another point to the scoreboard for Western seeing the score at 15-11. Another attacking error from the Warriors puts Western within six of the set win. A double block from Robin Henshaw and Claire Stewart brings the team within three of the set win. A timeout is called by Western as the Mustangs come within one of the set win. A short serve from the Warriors secures the first set for the Mustangs with a score of 25-20.
A kill from Devin Gerth puts Western on the scoreboard first. The teams equalize at 3-3 but an attacking error from Western puts Waterloo ahead in the points. Hannah Joo finds the back right corner to put the Mustangs ahead by one. Another tip over the net by Devin Gerth adds a point to the scoreboard. A block from Ava Ebert and Hannah Joo sees the Mustangs three ahead of the Warriors. Waterloo are able to catch up to the Mustangs in the points and push ahead slightly, causing Western to call for a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Warriors are able to get the first point coming out of the timeout but a tip over the net by Devin Gerth works to close the point gap. Western take their second timeout when the Warriors push five points ahead of Western. Coming out of the timeout, Western are able to close the point gap to three, causing Waterloo to call for a timeout. Western continue to put pressure on the Warriors as Waterloo come within two points of the set win. The Warriors then call for a timeout, using their last one of the set. The Warriors go on to take the second set 25-18.
A serve sent out of bounds by Waterloo puts Western on the board, but a ball just tipped over the net from the Warriors finds the middle of the court where it falls between two Mustangs puts Waterloo on the board. A double block from Claire Stewart and Robin Henshaw puts Western back in the lead. The teams trade points early in this third set. Lael Harrison adds to the kills for Western as she finds the far-right corner of the court, making it her fourth kill of the game. Western push two points ahead after a ball is sent wide by Waterloo. A timeout is called by Waterloo as Western push back ahead in the lead by two points. Coming out of the timeout, a kill from Lael Harrison adds to Western’s scoreboard and some miscommunication between the back row of the Waterloo side adds another point to Western’s score. Waterloo uses their second timeout of the set after Western push within eight points of the set win, Waterloo following five behind the Mustangs. Western come within four points of the set win, a five-point advantage over the Warriors. A timeout is called by Western to regroup. Western take the first point coming out of the timeout after a ball finds the line for the Mustangs. Claire Stewart tips the ball over the net to bring the Mustangs within one point of the set win. An attacking error from the Warriors sees Western take the third set 25-16.
Waterloo get on the scoreboard first in the fourth set. Much like in the early moments of the third set, the two teams trade points. After the teams equalize at 6-6, the teams have a long rally that saw both teams work to keep the ball alive. It was ultimately Waterloo who were able to get through the Western block that put them ahead. Western equalizes yet again and a service ace from Ava Ebert puts Western ahead. A further solo block from Hannah Joo sees Western go two points ahead in the score. Devin Gerth then finds the far corner as Waterloo and adding a kill to the scoreboard. A timeout is called by Waterloo as Western find their stride towards the middle of the set. The Waterloo block gets the Warriors a point on the scoreboard coming out of the timeout. A few moments later, Claire Stewart gets another kill, putting Western four points ahead of the Warriors. Despite the Mustangs continuing to push towards the set win, Waterloo maintains the pressure on Western. The final timeout from the Warriors is called as Western come within six of the set win. A tip over the net by Claire Stewart as they come out of the timeout confuses the Warriors with the change in speed of the hits. Western come within five of the set win. A further solo block a few moments later from Claire Stewart adds to the nine kills she already has thus far. Western call for a timeout as they come within two of the set win. Another block from Stewart brings the team within one of the game win. a ball sent out of bounds by Waterloo secures the fourth set for Western, with a final score of 25-19.
The Western Mustangs are advancing into the next round of the playoffs after the win against Waterloo today. Catch the action on OUA.tv this Saturday at 6pm.