February 25, 2012
GAELS CROWNED OUA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS
LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs lost a heartbreaker of a match in the OUA Finals tonight at Alumni Hall. It was the Queen’s Gaels who won this time though in a drawn out match of three sets to two.
Set scores were 25-22, 22-25, 27-25, 16-25 and 12-15.
It was a close point spread for most of set one until Western broke away 16-13 at the technical. Three kills in the set from setter Sean McKay helped the team to the 25-22 victory.
The Gaels played a strong second set led by seven kills from Michael Amoroso. With the score 19-15 in favour of the Gaels, the Mustangs were forced to take two timeouts before the end of the set. A good serving run from Garrett May brought the Mustangs within reach with a score of 22-23 but it was not enough and the Gaels shut down the Mustangs with kills from Amoroso and Joren Zeeman.
Western succeeded in taking back a 2-1 lead winning the third set 27-25. The teams rallied to the technical when Western’s offensive side took over. With the middle wide open, Mathew Waite and Phil James were able to beat the Queen’s blockers and notch enough points for the win.
Zeeman, frustrated with the set at hand, was given a yellow card early in set four and with emotions at all time highs, managed to translate that into points for the Gaels. Down 8-12, the Mustangs called timeout. By the technical break, they were down 10-16 and further defensive errors along with serve errors, played a role in the 16-25 loss.
The fifth and final set could have gone to either team. Up 3-0, Queen’s forced Western into a timeout. Western came back onto the court with what appeared to be a renewed sense of direction. An attack from Garrett May and key block from Mathieu Poulin brought the Mustangs within two points of the Gaels. In the end, the Gaels took the set 15-12 and with it, the 2011/12 OUA Men’s Volleyball Championship banner.
Waite had 21 points in the match (14 kills, 5 solo blocks, 1 serve ace) for the Mustangs. James contributed nine kills, seven digs and two serve aces for a total of 14 points. Poulin put up 10 points (8 kills, 8 digs, 1 solo block).
Queen’s veteran and Tournament MVP Zeeman had a match high of 26 points (20 kills, 13 digs, 5 solo blocks), while Amoroso followed with 20 points (17 kills, 4 digs, 3 solo blocks).
Players of the game went to James for Western and Zeeman for Queen’s.
As Queen’s University is the host of the 2012 CIS Men’s Volleyball Championships, the Western Mustangs will automatically advance to tournament with their first game on Friday, Mar. 2.
Courtesy: Mustangs Athletics
