The Mustangs its CIS Championship drought last season, making it to nationals for the first time since 2001. Finishing with a record of 16-2 in the OUA standings, and reaching CIS Top Ten rankings 14 straight times, Western saw a season of change in 2011-2012 and is back to improve this upcoming season – starting Friday, October 26 in Toronto.
Mustang middle hitter Phil James finished last season with 146 kills and earned a spot as a 2012 First-Team All-Canadian and as a 2012 First-Team OUA All-Star accolade and is bringing his power back to the court for a fourth season.
Powerhouse veteran Garrett May also joins the roster for another season, finishing ninth in the OUA with 179 kills last year. May also earned a First-Team OUA All-Star accolade as well as second team last season.
The Stangs are excited to welcome London, Ontario local and one of the top middle players in the province Mike Choja to their team, recruited from the London Oakridge AAA OFSSA winning team.
The Western Mustangs play their first OUA regular season games this weekend against Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday, October 26, followed by a game against the Ryerson Rams on Saturday, October 26, both in Toronto.
Toronto
The Toronto Varsity Blues finished in eighth place in the OUA with a 5-13 record for the 2011-2012 volleyball season and welcomes back all but one player to its 2012-2013 squad. Fifth-year veteran Mitchell Woodside from Clyde River, P.E.I. is Toronto’s leading veteran. Right side Woodside led the Blues with 3.19 kills per set last season and is the team captain and role model.
Starting libero Michael Denton led the team with 2.65 digs per set. With one season under their belts, top second year players Trevor Grant and Steven Khuu return to the Blues’ roster ready for a fresh start as 2012 All-Rookie nominees. Grant, the 6-foot-5 middle, used his height advantage finishing the 2011-2013 season with 41 blocks, ranking second on the team and led the Varsity Blue rookies with 84 points in 18 games. Varsity Blues 6-foot-1 starting setter Khuu ranked sixth in the OUA for the 2011-2012 season and averaged 9.04 assists per set. Toronto is an experienced team this season with a new focus, without worries of adjusting to the top OUA standards.
Ryerson
The Ryerson Rams finished ninth in the OUA 2011-2012 season with a 3-15 record and hopes to learn from last season and in order to excel into the 2012-2013 year. The Rams will bring back the majority of their roster this season including key veteran players Luka Milosevic and Alex Dawson.
Fifth year hitter Milosevic earned 159 kills last season followed by Dawson who registered 140 kills and was named to the OUA All-Rookie team. Starting off this season with a loss to the York Lions in the National Bank Invitational 1-3, the Rams picked up pace at the Coast 2 Coast Tournament on October 12-14 finishing with a 2-1 score. The Rams are certainly not lacking in experience on their squad and can use that to their advantage this season.
The season officially commences for the Mustangs in with a game against the Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym followed by a match against the Ryerson Rams on Saturday, October 27 at 8:00 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
