Thrilling comeback

Down two sets to none, on a seven-game losing streak and the Christmas break moment away, it would have been easy for the Lakehead Thunderwolves to fold up their tent and take their chances in the second half.

But that’s not how the story unfolded Saturday night. 

The Wolves fought on and capped a thrilling three-set turnaround with a 15-7 win over the Western Mustangs in the fifth and deciding set to earn a 3-2 win and a 3-7 record in OUA women’s volleyball play.

“I think that was huge for our team,” said LU’s Jen Casey, who had 19 kills and six digs to pace the Wolves attack.

“Looking our past, four years ago we won our first two games and lost every other game after that. Last year we lost every game until the one right before Christmas. Then after Christmas we put everything together and everything was flowing better. So I think this game says a lot to where our season’s going.”

Teammate Jasmine Fox said it was an important message to get across to some of Lakehead’s younger players, particularly the rookies who weren’t with the team last season as they battled back and made the post-season for the first time in seven years.

The Manitoba native said wins like this one build character, something the team has plenty of, but hasn’t necessarily shown all season long.

“We haven’t shown them what it’s like to be in that hole and come out as winners,” the fourth-year veteran said.

“I think it was not only good for the older players, for confidence reasons, but just to set the tone as we go into training. It feels good to actually push through and make that happen.”

It’s not like the Thunderwolves were thoroughly outplayed by the Mustangs, who fell to 2-8, in the opening two sets.

Down 9-4 in the first match, they scored four straight points to go up 20-19, but couldn’t hang on and fell 27-25.

It was a similar story in the second set.

Western opened with seven straight points and led 21-12 at one point. But the Wolves stormed back, scoring five of the next six points, later closing to within three before losing 25-21.

The third set was all Lakehead. With nothing to lose they bounced out to a 12-4 advantage and coasted to a 25-12 win, then held on in a tight fourth that saw nine lead changes, winning 25-21.

“We started down big twice. Once we got into rhythm it was OK. I knew that third set we had a good feeling about it,” said LU coach Chris Green.

“We had said if we could get back to 18-22 points, we’d have a chance for (the second) set and it would set us up for the third set. And they did that. So it was good.”