The Western Mustangs took on Trent Excalibur this evening for the second matchup between the two this week. The Mustangs dominated on the court to win the game 3-0. The team is looking ahead at next week where they will meet with Queens in their last regular season games.
Western take the opening point of the first set after an error from Trent. Trent quickly equalize and push ahead by one. The Mustangs gain some momentum and push ahead again. An attacking error from the Mustangs equalizes the teams at 5-5. Blake Fenwick puts the team ahead by two as he tips the ball over the net where it falls in the middle of the court. After the Mustangs push ahead by four, Trent call for a timeout. After a huge dig by Cameron McGregor, a ball is sent long by Trent to give the Mustangs another point on the board. A ball tipped over the net by Josiah Esau puts the Mustangs eight points ahead of Trent. Nicholas Folz gets a huge block to put the Mustangs 10 points ahead of Trent with a score of 18-10. After a ball goes out of bounds off the hands of Trent, the Mustangs come within five points of the set win. A short serve from Trent puts them two to the set win. Conor Doran comes onto the court – he gets a kill to put the Mustangs within one of the set. The Mustangs take the opening set 25-13.
Western dominates early in the second set getting four points on the board, not letting Trent score. Blake Fenwick gets a block, bring the Mustangs six ahead. Trent gets one on the board but the Mustangs get the serve back again quickly. A few points later, Kendall Homenick tips the ball over the net to find the middle of the court. A service ace from Cade Smith puts the Mustangs 13 points ahead of Trent. Conor Doran gets a kill, putting the Mustangs five away from the set win. Wasil Magdi gets a kill adding another point to the set win and firing up the Western bench. A service error from Trent gives the Mustangs the second set with a score of 25-8.
Michael Jones serves to start the third set. Western push ahead in the points. A kill from Kendall Homenick puts the Mustangs three ahead in the points. Trent maintains a short distance behind in the points. Cade Smith adds to the set kills. Cameron McGregor sends a ball into the Trent block where it goes out of bounds. A triple block from Trent brings them within one of the Mustangs. After miscommunication between Trent, a free ball that was sent over by Andrew Kerkhoff gives the Mustangs a free point. Josiah Esau then goes on to get a contested service ace. A timeout is called when the Mustangs push five ahead of Trent. Coming out of the timeout, Western win the first point as a ball is unable to be sent over the net by Trent. A block that goes out of bounds by Western bring Trent within seven. They work to close the point gap to five. An error from Western’s defense puts Trent three behind. A kill from Jason Guy finds the far-left corner of the court. A short serve from Trent‘s Daniel Austin puts the Mustangs six away from the set win. A block from Jason Guy puts them within five of the set win. Kendall Homenick adds to that set score with a kill. An attacking error from Trent puts the Mustangs within two of the set win. Despite this, Trent gets a ball through the Western block to bring them within three of the Mustangs. Josiah Esau serves for the set win. Trent adds another to the scoreboard but a kill from Blake Fenwick secures the game win for the Mustangs with a set score of 25-21.
After the game, Assistant Coach Stu Pow explained “our focus tonight, our focus all week has been to execute at the highest level we are capable of. Regardless of who is on the other side of the net. Regular season is winding down and we need to be playing our best volleyball in the postseason and so that was our focus all week”. There were some new faces on the court today who were making an appearance. Pow told us that “I think it means a lot. They’ll be grateful to the seniors for taking care of business and for giving them the opportunity to get out there and get some experience as they’re starting off their careers”. Looking ahead to the games against Queens next week, he went on to add that “Queens will be a formidable opponent. It’s the same way we treated this week. Regardless on who is on the other side of the net, we are looking to try to play the highest level of volleyball that we are capable of. So we’ll see what happens”.
The Western Mustangs will meet with the Queens Gaels next Friday in Alumni Hall. Catch the action on OUA.tv.