LONDON, Ont. -- For every step forward the Lakehead Thunderwolves take on the volleyball court they seem to take two backwards.
Less than 24 hours after a key win over the Brock Badgers provided hope to their playoff aspirations, those dreams took a significant hit after the fell to the Western Mustangs in straight sets (24-26, 13-25, 23-25) Saturday afternoon.
The Friday night win moved Lakehead to within one game of the final OUA West playoff spot, which was held by a Mustangs team that had dropped eight of their previous nine games.
Instead of pulling even, Lakehead (3-13) might have seen their chance extinguished as Western (5-11) solidified their hold.
The match was characterized by squandered opportunities for Lakehead, beginning in the first set. The Thunderwolves had a set point leading 24-23 but could not convert, allowing Western to win the next three points to draw first blood.
The second set started out tight with Western leading 6-5 before the Mustangs won 12 of the next 14 points to blow it wide open.
The Thunderwolves appeared poised to extend the match, leading 23-19 but conceded the next six points as Western closed it out.
Lakehead concludes their three-game road trip Sunday afternoon when they face the Windsor Lancers (5-11).
