Home » Sports » Mustangs grab first place after win over Warriors

Mustangs grab first place after win over Warriors

December 3, 2009
By Steven Howard

The Western Mustangs men’s volleyball team makes winning look easy.
On Friday night the Mustangs cruised to a straight-set win over the Waterloo Warriors to improve to 8-1 and slip into a first place tie with McMaster. Left side hitter and team captain Eric Simon led the way with 15 kills.
“We were pretty consistent,” Simon said. “We had one or two lapses where we dropped our play. But other than that we played full sets, which is what we set out to do.”
On the other sideline, Waterloo coach Chris Lawson was far from impressed with his Warriors.
“For us it was a disaster really,” Lawson said. “Western played well, but we did absolutely nothing. When your outside hitters have an efficiency of zero, you’re not going to beat a girl guide team let alone a nationally ranked team.”
The win was over a Warriors team that terrorized the Mustangs last year. Not only did Waterloo beat the Mustangs twice in the regular season, but they also knocked Western out of the playoffs in last year’s quarter-finals.
“We tried to not focus on the revenge factor because it’s a different team. They have different players; we have different players,” Mustangs coach Jim Sage said. “But I know the guys were thinking about it. It was sweet revenge for sure.”
Simon, who was a member of last year’s team, thinks the Mustangs have what it takes to win an Ontario University Athletics championship this year. It would be the school’s first in men’s volleyball since 1979.
“This is absolutely a team with OUA gold potential,” Simon said. “[There is] talent and work ethic amongst the players.”
Sage doesn’t want to look too far ahead, but he admits the team has a chance for a championship.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” Sage said. “But I think if we stay healthy and don’t get complacent with where we’re at, then I think we have a shot.”
The Mustangs jumped on the Warriors early in the first set, taking an 8-3 lead. The Warriors battled back, but Western was able to hang on and win the set 25-22.
In the second set it was Western’s turn to come from behind. Sage called a timeout with his team down 12-8 in an effort to rally the Mustangs. They went on to win the set 27-25.
Western may have caught a break after Waterloo’s Duncan Cairns appeared to have earned a dig on a ball that officials ruled hit the ground. Cairns argued, but the call stood bringing Western to within one point of the Warriors. Western gained momentum after the call and went on to win the next three points.
“It’s a tough one,” Lawson said. “Calls happen, that’s the way it is. It certainly had no influence on the match.”
After Western rookie Phil James tied the third set at 15-15 with one of his five kills on the night, the Mustangs won 10 of the next 15 points to take the final set 25-20.
Simon, who won player of the game for Western, continues to be one of the OUA’s top players.
“He’s really driven this year,” Sage said. “You can see it in his leadership. He’s taking it upon himself to get us there and the other guys pick up on that energy. He’s been great.”
Lawson was also impressed with Simon’s performance.
“Eric always plays well,” Lawson said. “He’s a go-for-it kind of player. He’s trying to win — not trying to not lose. That’s a great attitude.”
Despite a strong game, Simon thinks he can be even better.
“I thought my passing was a little shaky,” Simon said. “They didn’t serve me too many balls. I guess it was because we had a sub come in. They tried to pick on him.”
The Mustangs finished the 2009 portion of their schedule with their seventh consecutive victory, a 3-1 road win over Guelph on Saturday. They next see action at the York Excalibur Volleyball Tournament on Jan. 8.