Peterborough, ON – It took the full five sets, but the Mustangs took a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Trent on Saturday night.
Western started strong in the first set, with Oliver Toomes contributing early with kills to open the night and another at 2-0. Cade Smith added to the effort with a series of kills at 7-7, 13-13, and later at 16-21, showcasing consistent offensive execution. Despite a mid-set surge from Trent, including a string of points to reach 12-8, the Mustangs kept pressure with Nicolas Silon and Scott Dionne making critical plays, though the set concluded with Trent ahead 25-20.
The second set began with Western’s Michael Jones capitalizing on an attack error by Brock Drover to score the first point. Western gained momentum midway through, with Smith securing consecutive kills. Despite a strong effort from Western, including a late kill by Nicolas Silon, Trent managed to pull ahead and ultimately took the set 25-20.
In the third set, Western started strong with Michael Jones securing the first point through a kill, followed by a service ace, quickly bringing the score to 2-0. Toomes and Smith contributed significantly with multiple kills, each assisted by Jones, maintaining a competitive edge. A crucial streak occurred as Kendall Homenick served four consecutive points, extending Western’s lead to 14-9. Despite some challenges, including service errors, Western closed the set with a solid kill by Conor Doran, ending the set at 25-20 in favour of the Mustangs.
In the fourth set, Western started strong with a 3-0 lead, featuring two consecutive kills by Cade Smith assisted by Michael Jones and Oliver Toomes. A key moment occurred when Western scored five straight points, highlighted by a service ace from Conor Doran, bringing the score to 7-4. Cade Smith continued his impactful performance with multiple kills, including one that finalized Western’s 25-13 set win.
In the fifth set, Western began with a strong showing, with Conor Doran scoring an initial point at the beginning of the set. Cade Smith followed with a series of three consecutive kills, assisted by Michael Jones, helping the Mustangs build a lead. Western maintained momentum with Kendall Homenick and Oliver Toomes adding crucial points, leading to a 15-13 win for Western.
Cade Smith stands out on the Mustangs with 30.5 points, the highest on the team, and a hitting percentage of .339 over five games. Andrew Kerkhoff led the team’s defensive efforts, recording 16 digs. Michael Jones contributes significantly to the team’s setting, with 55 assists, and also adds 15 digs in five sets. Oliver Toomes shows a solid attacking performance with a .379 hitting percentage and 13 kills, contributing 14 points overall.
Western returns home next weekend to take on the Brock Badgers starting Friday night at Alumni Hall. First serve is set to fly at 8:00pm.
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