HAMILTON (March 5, 2010) – After falling behind two sets to none to the Western Mustangs, the Queen's Gaels men's volleyball team rallied to earn a five set (26-28, 16-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-12) victory in the OUA Semifinal Friday night at McMaster.

The opening two sets saw the Gaels struggle with their service game and the Mustangs were able to take advantage as they jumped out to a two set lead.

It appeared that the Gaels were in trouble once again in the third set but a series of excellent serves from Bryan Fautley of Oakville, Ont., propelled the Gaels into the lead at the second technical timeout. From there, the teams would trade points until a stuff block by Dan Rosenbaum of Hamilton and Michael Amoroso of Toronto gave Queen's the third set and new life in the match.

The Gaels carried the momentum they gained from the third set win into the fourth set and they used it to their advantage. The Mustangs would stay close for the entire set but a kill by Amoroso sent the game to a fifth and deciding set.

After falling behind early in the set, the Gaels rallied thanks to some excellent defensive play and key blocking. A Western hitting error gave the Gaels two set points and Fautley and Amoroso combined on a stuff block to win the match.

Amoroso, who was named the Queen's player of the game, finished with 14 kills and four stuff blocks. Fautley, whose service game in the third set seemed to be the turning point for the Gaels, finished with 11 kills, three service aces, 10 digs and 3.5 stuff blocks. Other Gaels to reach double figures in kills included Joren Zeeman of Cambridge, Ont., with 17 and Niko Rukavina of Mississauga, Ont., with 12.

Rosenbaum, who played an excellent all-around game, finished with a game-high 51 assists.

Mathieu Poulin of Winnipeg, Man., was the Mustangs top producer with 17 kills and 11 digs while Mathew Waite of St. Thomas, Ont., chipped in with 13 kills.

The victory advances the Gaels to tomorrow's Gold Medal game that will see Queen's take on the Guelph Gryphons, who upset the top-seeded McMaster Marauders in five sets in the first semifinal. The winner of the contest will also advance to next weekend's CIS Championships at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C. The championship game will start at 7:00 pm and fans can watch the game live online at www.ssncanada.ca.