HAMILTON, Ont. – The Queen’s Gaels were able to battle back from a 2 set deficit to beat the Western Mustangs 3-2 Friday March 5 in the OUA semifinal game. The two teams had faced each other twice in the regular season with the home team winning in four sets each time. In the rubber match on a neutral court at Burridge Gymnasium in Hamilton, the Mustangs were able to take a 2-0 set lead by scores of 28-26 and 25-16 but the Queen’s Gaels came from behind to win 3 sets in a row (25-23, 25-22, 15-12) to win 3-2. 


 

With the loss this ends Western’s season and their attempt at a trip to Nationals. Eric Simon (London, Ont.) received player of the game in the loss, his final game in an illustrious career for the Mustangs. Mathieu Poulin (Winnipeg) led the attack for the Mustangs with 17 kills and 11 digs. Mathew Waite (St. Thomas, Ont.) was strong at the net with 13 kills, 7 assisted blocks and a serving ace. Matthew Gibson (Oshawa, ON) played well setting up the offence with 42 assists to go along with 15 digs and a solo block.

The Mustangs came out strong in the first set, attacking well but the Gaels were playing tough defence as well with Western holding a slight 8-7 advantage. A quick run by Western extended the lead to 12-9 before Queen’s called a time out to stop the Mustang momentum. Queen’s was not going to give the set away and at the second technical timeout Western had a slight 16-14 lead. Play was back and forth throughout the latter part of the first set with the teams tied at 23 apiece and then again at 25. After a service error by Queen’s and a great hit by Poulin, Western took the first set 28-26.

Western carried the momentum of winning the first set into the second and took a quick 5-1 lead early on and took an 8-3 lead into the first technical timeout. Western held the advantage throughout the set extending the lead to 20-14 late in the set. The Mustangs looked sharp in finishing off the Gaels 25-16 to take the second set and the 2-0 lead.

Queen’s played a lot more aggressive to start the third set, with Western having a slight 8-6 lead. The teams traded points throughout with Queen’s battling to a 16-14 lead at the second technical timeout. The Gaels and Mustangs traded points throughout the set and the score was tied at 23 each. Queen’s was able to steal two points to take the set 25-23.

The fourth set started with each teams trading points with the Gaels moving ahead 12-8. Queen’s was playing well and took a 16-12 lead into the timeout. Western hung tough throughout the set but Queen’s was able to take the fourth set 25-22 to extend the game to a fifth set.

Western came out strong in the fifth set, holding a slight 6-5 lead, in a tightly contested start to the set. The battle continued throughout with the Mustangs up 11-10. The hard fought battle came down the wire with Queen’s pulling out the final set 15-12.