Western opens the season with 3 set sweep over Waterloo

After going 1-1 in the preseason, the Mustangs showed no sign of rust or nerves heading into their season opener against a 2-0 Waterloo team.

Despite it being their first match with points on the line, the purple and white got off to a hot start. A long rally to start the match ended with Western taking the first point, courtesy of Jaeya Brach. The Mustangs continued to gain momentum and proved to be too much for Waterloo in the first set.

The Vancouver natives Brach and Claire Stewart provided the next two points from Western to go up 6-3. The Mustangs would continue their run and force a Warriors timeout as they found themselves down 6 early in the set and looked to re-group.

Despite some service and hitting errors, a huge swing from Stewart would continue Western’s momentum and see them go up 16-8. Lots of big blocks from the purple and white’s defence saw them beginning to run away with the set.

Another timeout was taken by Waterloo, which proved to be effective as the Warriors took the next two points, courtesy of a striking service game and big digs. It wouldn’t be enough for a Warriors comeback however, as Western closed out the set soon after for a final 25-13 victory. The Mustangs out killed the Warriors 15 to 6 in the set.

The second set proved to be a lot closer.

The two sides split points to start, with some hitting errors from Western resulting in a smaller gap in the scoreboard than the first set. Two big kills from Brach and Stewart would give the Mustangs their first large gap, that being 9-6.

Captain Kate Van Camp placed a shallow shot preventing a Warriors dig, thereby extending their lead. Waterloo always had answers to Western however and would quickly tie the set up at 12-12.

A big push was made from the Warriors as Western began closing in on a two-set lead. The home team would close the gap with no room for error thanks to their rookie server, tying it up at 23 a piece. The purple and white would stand strong and win the next two points and ultimately take the tight second set 25-23.

The Warriors would look to mitigate a forceful Mustang back-row to force a fourth set. They would take an early 2-1 lead, their first of the match, but Western would quickly tie it up thanks to outside hitter Janelle Albert, who continued her dominant showing as she proved to be too much for Waterloo throughout the match.

Western would then double up on the home side, taking an early 6-3 lead as they looked to secure their victory quickly.

A technical timeout at 16-13 proved to be the turning point in the set. Western would go on to take 7 straight points, running away with the set and edging closer to victory up 24-13.

The Warriors couldn’t fight their way back from match point, and the Mustangs would win the set 25-13, taking the win against Waterloo 3-0.

Western is back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they return to Alumni Hall for their season opener in a rematch against the Waterloo Warriors at 4pm.