October 18, 2008
OUA W-VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: WESTERN SHUTS DOWN LAKEHEAD
LONDON, Ont. - A blend of promising rookie talent and veteran leadership lifted the Western Mustangs to a 3-0 victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves that took just over an hour to complete at Alumni Hall in front of 107 fans on Oct. 17.
Sarah Johnston (Stratford, Ont.) led Western with nine points, while libero Andrea Ruste (Edmonton, Alta.) added 15 digs.
Even when Western's vets left the court, the new faces looked like savvy seniors and didn't miss a beat.
It didn't start well for the Mustangs with fifth-year senior Melissa Mann (London, Ont.) showing early jitters, setting the ball out of bounds on a miscue with the game's first touch to give Lakehead the 1-0 lead.
It was one of the rare opportunities for Lakehead which struggled to find rhythm in the game and made many unforced errors.
Johnston, a sophomore quickly tied the game on the next play for Western as the Mustangs held leads of 5-3 and 8-4. But Lakehead kept the game close early, pulling within one at 10-9.
The strong serving of Elaine Screaton (Calgary, Alta.) and the excellent play of rookie Kaitlyn Ognibene (Whitby, Ont.) re-established the Western lead, before rookie Lauren McLean (Innisfill, Ont.) soundly served the 16th point to carry Western into the second technical up by five.
After an impressive nine-point rally, Western took the first set 25-12 after a net violation by the Thunderwolves.
In the second game, Lakehead held an early lead before Western battled back to lead after the first side-out, eventually building a lead of 16-13 in the second side-out.
With the Sarah Lowry Fan Club in attendance - better known as the Western's men's hockey team - a big roar came in when the sophomore came in for her first action and helped Western to take the set, beginning by setting up their 18th point.
Lowry (Calgary, Alta.) then scored the 24th point on a nice dig, elevating the ball over the net for set point. Lakehead's Jennifer Bognar (Thunder Bay, Ont.) hit the ball long and Western took the second set 25-18.
In the third set, with many starters resting and young substitutes getting valuable court time, Western fought back from a 6-5 deficit to tie the game at 7-7. With beach volleyball star Caleigh Whitaker (Sharon, Ont.) serving, Western took an 8-7 lead and extended the lead to 12-7 under her service, before a double-hit at the net.
With McLean serving, Western built a 16-9 cushion.
Strong defence allowed the Mustangs lead to stretch to 23-12 with rookie Christie-Lee Wilson (London, Ont.) serving. After her serve, a Thunderwolves net violation set up match point.
But Wilson's serve went long.
However a Whitaker kill clinched the set at 25-13 and allowed Western to sweep the squad from Thunder Bay.
Western's next game is on Sat. Oct. 25 in the nation's capital at Montpetit Hall against the Ottawa Gee-Gees at 2:30 p.m.
Source: Mustangs Athletics
Photo credit: Craig Glover
OTTAWA 3, QUEEN'S 2
KINGSTON, Ont. - Left for dead, the Gee-Gees found life and later a victory with a 3-2 comeback road win over Queen's Friday night in a five-match marathon to open the 2008-09 OUA season.
Fifth-year power hitting team captain Veronique Yeon (Ottawa, Ont.) had 15 kills as the Gee-Gees dug an 0-2 hole before storming back with three straight wins for a 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, and 15-13 season-opening win that spanned two hours and 15 minutes.
\"We were very, very bad in the first two games,\" said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods, \"and very, very good in the final three games.\"
The Gee-Gees (1-0), 5-0 in season opening matches since 2004, visit RMC (0-0) Sat., Oct. 18 (2:30 p.m.).
Source: Gee-Gees Athletics
Sarah Johnston (Stratford, Ont.) led Western with nine points, while libero Andrea Ruste (Edmonton, Alta.) added 15 digs.
Even when Western's vets left the court, the new faces looked like savvy seniors and didn't miss a beat.
It didn't start well for the Mustangs with fifth-year senior Melissa Mann (London, Ont.) showing early jitters, setting the ball out of bounds on a miscue with the game's first touch to give Lakehead the 1-0 lead.
It was one of the rare opportunities for Lakehead which struggled to find rhythm in the game and made many unforced errors.
Johnston, a sophomore quickly tied the game on the next play for Western as the Mustangs held leads of 5-3 and 8-4. But Lakehead kept the game close early, pulling within one at 10-9.
The strong serving of Elaine Screaton (Calgary, Alta.) and the excellent play of rookie Kaitlyn Ognibene (Whitby, Ont.) re-established the Western lead, before rookie Lauren McLean (Innisfill, Ont.) soundly served the 16th point to carry Western into the second technical up by five.
After an impressive nine-point rally, Western took the first set 25-12 after a net violation by the Thunderwolves.
In the second game, Lakehead held an early lead before Western battled back to lead after the first side-out, eventually building a lead of 16-13 in the second side-out.
With the Sarah Lowry Fan Club in attendance - better known as the Western's men's hockey team - a big roar came in when the sophomore came in for her first action and helped Western to take the set, beginning by setting up their 18th point.
Lowry (Calgary, Alta.) then scored the 24th point on a nice dig, elevating the ball over the net for set point. Lakehead's Jennifer Bognar (Thunder Bay, Ont.) hit the ball long and Western took the second set 25-18.
In the third set, with many starters resting and young substitutes getting valuable court time, Western fought back from a 6-5 deficit to tie the game at 7-7. With beach volleyball star Caleigh Whitaker (Sharon, Ont.) serving, Western took an 8-7 lead and extended the lead to 12-7 under her service, before a double-hit at the net.
With McLean serving, Western built a 16-9 cushion.
Strong defence allowed the Mustangs lead to stretch to 23-12 with rookie Christie-Lee Wilson (London, Ont.) serving. After her serve, a Thunderwolves net violation set up match point.
But Wilson's serve went long.
However a Whitaker kill clinched the set at 25-13 and allowed Western to sweep the squad from Thunder Bay.
Western's next game is on Sat. Oct. 25 in the nation's capital at Montpetit Hall against the Ottawa Gee-Gees at 2:30 p.m.
Source: Mustangs Athletics
Photo credit: Craig Glover
OTTAWA 3, QUEEN'S 2
KINGSTON, Ont. - Left for dead, the Gee-Gees found life and later a victory with a 3-2 comeback road win over Queen's Friday night in a five-match marathon to open the 2008-09 OUA season.
Fifth-year power hitting team captain Veronique Yeon (Ottawa, Ont.) had 15 kills as the Gee-Gees dug an 0-2 hole before storming back with three straight wins for a 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, and 15-13 season-opening win that spanned two hours and 15 minutes.
\"We were very, very bad in the first two games,\" said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods, \"and very, very good in the final three games.\"
The Gee-Gees (1-0), 5-0 in season opening matches since 2004, visit RMC (0-0) Sat., Oct. 18 (2:30 p.m.).
Source: Gee-Gees Athletics
