Mustangs drop a pair of tight contests with Windsor

London, ON – The Mustangs rounded out the home portion of their 2024-25 schedule this weekend with a pair of games agains the rival Windsor Lancers.

The weekend started on Friday night with the Mustangs battling the OUA leaders from Windsor.

 The game began with a lead from the Lancers at 10-7 due to slight errors from the Mustangs. Western then called a timeout at 12-7 after Windsor brought in 2 points. The set wasn’t looking too good for the Mustangs at 17-11 Windsor. After a kill from the Lancers the Mustangs called a timeout at 18-12. Western managed to bring in 5 points making Windsor call a timeout at 19-17. The Mustangs caught up to Windsor tying the score at 22-22, resulting in the Lancers calling a timeout. Western powered through and ended off the set with a nasty block at 25-22. 

The second set didn’t start off too well for the Mustangs with the Lancers ahead at 5-1 resulting in a timeout Western. The Mustangs worked their way up the scoreboard catching up to the Lancers at 12-12. With Western in the lead at 14-12, Windsor asked for a timeout. The score was tied at 18-18 making this another close set. The Mustangs then called a timeout at 21-18 after a couple of attack errors. The Lancers then took the set at 25-20, making it a 1-1 game. 

The third set was a better start for the Mustangs with them in the lead 6-4. Western kept the leverage at 15-10 keeping a good enough distance to lead the Lancers into a timeout. The Lancers ended up taking another timeout at 21-16 after a couple of kills from the Mustangs. Windsor racked up some points from the Mustangs errors making Western call a timeout at 23-21. With a tight score of 24-23, the Mustangs called another timeout. Western ended off the set with a quick kill at 25-23. 

The fourth set was a rougher beginning for Western with the Lancer ahead 6-2. The Mustangs caught up with the lancers at 10-9. Western came back with the lead at 17-15 causing the Lancers to call for a timeout. Windsor caught up to western tying the game at 20-20. At 21-20 the Mustangs called a timeout along with another one at 22-20. Although the Mustangs fought hard this set, the Lancers took the win at 25-21 extending the match to a fifth set. 

The fifth set began with an even score between the teams at 2-2. The Lancers then took the lead at 6-4. After a bad set, the Mustangs called a timeout at 9-5. Western then asked for their last timeout at 11-6. As the mustangs caught up at 9-12, Windsor took a timeout. The Lancers ended the game taking the fifth set with the score at 15-10. 

KEY STATS: 

Nic Silon – 22 kills, 2 solo blocks, 11 digs 

QUOTE OF THE GAME:

“If only we’d had improved a little more on our outside presence and a bit of blocking, then maybe we could have created a totally different outcome” Head Coach Jim Sage.
 

Prior to the second meeting between the Lancers and Mustangs on Saturday afternoon, the coaches paused to recognize the four graduating seniors from the 2024-25 class. The team recognized Setter Michael Jones, Middle Jonah Millard, Middle Nico Folz & Right Side/Middle Tom Wrigley.

GAME RECAP

The game started with an even score between the teams at 7-7. The Lancers then took the lead at 12-8 after a couple of errors by the Mustangs. As the set progressed Windsor stayed ahead at 18-13 making Western call a timeout. The Mustangs asked for another timeout at 23-18 after a slower start. Windsor then ended the set at 25-20. 

The second set wasn’t a great beginning for the Mustangs with the Lancers ahead at 7-2. One point later, Western called a timeout at 8-2. As the set continued, Windsor stayed in the lead at 13-8 benefiting from Westerns’ errors. The Mustangs managed to catch up to Windsor, staying behind them at 17-18. After a crazy block and comeback from Western, the Lancers called a timeout at 19-18. The Mustangs then called a timeout at 22-20. The set ended off super tight with the score of 26-24 won by Windsor. 

The third set began with a closer score between the teams at 6-5 Windsor. At 13-9, the Mustangs called a timeout. Western caught up to the Lancers resulting in them calling a timeout at 14-13. After a few kills from the Lancers, Western called a timeout at 19-15. The Mustangs brought in 4 points to catch up to Windsor at 22-21, making the Lancers call a timeout. At 26-26 the teams tied making it a super close set. With a score of 30-28, the Mustangs finished off the set, making it a 2-1 match. 

The fourth set had a similar start to the last with the Lancers in the lead at 7-4. The Mustangs ended up calling a timeout at 11-5 to close the gap. As Western caught up to the Lancers at 13-10, Windsor asked for a timeout. The set wasn’t looking too good for the Mustangs with the score at 19-15. Western ended up calling another timeout at 22-17. Windsor ended off the game with a score of 25-19. 

KEY STATS
Cade Smith – 25 Kills, 15 digs, 1 service ace 

QUOTE OF THE GAME

“We addressed what we needed to improve on from the previous game, but we went in and did the same thing” said Mustangs Head Coach Jim Sage “I told the guys to be excited about the fact that we almost won last night considering they are the best team in the OUA, we have a chance in the playoffs”

NEXT GAME
The Mustangs are on the road for their final games of the season next weekend against Guelph, starting with a Friday night (February 14) game at 7:00pm. Fans can watch the action on OUA.tv