Mullen Extends Streak Against Golden

by: Hank Hooper, Associate Athletic Director
Did you know that the Mullen volleyball team in its five wins leading up to its match with Golden has not surrendered a single loss.  In their five wins, they are 15 and 0.  I wish that could be said for their other two matches, but unfortunately, the Mustangs were shut out in both those matches.  It is an interesting trend, nevertheless, and one that favors the Mustangs in their remaining non-league matches starting with Golden High School on Tuesday night.
The Mustangs took on the Demons from Golden, and by the time the varsity game rolled around, the Mustangs were pitching a shutout with their lower-level teams.  It was up to the varsity to make it a clean sweep.
 
Game one started out competitive with both teams exchanging points until Golden began to pull away from the Mustangs as both teams reached double-figures in scoring.  At that point it felt like things were getting away from the Mustangs.  When Golden was able to work to a 14 – 9 lead, the mood on the floor drastically changed and Mullen began to play with renewed vigor.  Mullen scored the next five points to tie the game at 14, and the Mustang temperament was one of focused confidence.  Again, back and forth the game went, and Golden was even able to stretch a lead to four at 19 - 15, but Mullen appeared to be in charge by taking control and storming back to tie the game at 20.  At 22 the teams were again deadlocked, and that was when the Mustangs asserted their assuredness by scoring the next three points to win the game 25 – 22.  It made for an exciting first game and left the outcome of the match uncertain despite the Mustang’s 1-0 lead.
 
A different Mullen team took the floor in game two, and by ‘different,’ it was apparent these Mustangs were ready to roll.  They toyed with the Demons to a 3 – 3 tie and proceeded to real off six-straight points which was hammered home by Devon Moors monster spike to give Mullen a 10-3 lead.  The Demons would not go away and tried to make a game of it by battling back to within five at 20-15.  Mullen was never really threatened in the game and won 25-17 to take a 2-0 lead in the Match.
 
In game 3 the devilish Demons tried to stick around, and early on it appeared they just might.  There were eight ties leading up to the final one at 11-apiece, but Mullen, in that span, never found itself at a deficit.  Instead, Mullen used the last tie as a launching-ground to leave the Demons behind.  Senior Carmela Carbone stepped up with two smashing attacks to put the Mustangs up by three.  Before the run was over, Mullen led 18 – 12.  Though Golden tried to fight its way back into the game, Mullen was too determined and went on to claim the victory 25 – 18 and continue the winning scoreless streak to six.        
 
With the win over Golden, Mullen extends its record to 6 -2 on the year which includes an impressive tournament win at the Glenwood Demon Invitational where the Mustangs came away unscathed in four matches. 
 
Coach Oliver was pleased with the bounce back by his team after the Regis loss last week.  “We expected we were going to have a good match and win that match.  We had some issues against Regis we shouldn’t have had, so we talked about that this week, and so it was a little rough but then we kinda got things how we should be playing so I was glad to see that.  It’s always good to get a win.”
 
Up next for Mullen is D’Evelyn as the Mustangs try to extend their streak of winless games for their opponents.  It will not be an easy task.  “Against D’Evelyn we obviously have to play our game and play good volleyball,” Coach said.  “ Every team is good, and they will have good players.  We have to be more consistent and not let a bad play affect us on the next play.  That’s the big thing for us.”  Streak or no streak, Mullen wants to finish out the non-league schedule with a win before they jump into their league schedule next week.
Back