Picking up their fifth and sixth consecutive wins over the weekend with a double-header against Lakehead (25-14, 20-25, 25-22, 28-30, 15-13)(25-15, 25-14, 25-23), the Mustangs have pushed themselves into third place in the OUA with a 10-2 record that puts them behind only McMaster in the West.

Friday saw the Mustangs struggle to close out the match and enter into a fifth set for only the third time this season. While the team continued blocking and attacking at the usual rate, an uncharacteristic weak spot was exposed at the base line. Fifteen service errors were recorded throughout the first match alone, a definite anomaly for the typically strong Mustang servers.

In the front court, a number of net violations further challenged Western, as the game was potentially the most closely policed of the season thus far.  

After weeks of sitting behind Aja Gyimah on the scoresheet, Kelsey Veltman came out swinging for her best performance of the season. Recording 35 points throughout the weekend, the 6-2 King's College student was the dominant force at the net while also challenging her opposition with a killer spin serve.

Western vs Guelph – Friday, January 29 at 6 p.m. - Watch live on OUA.tv

Sitting fourth in OUA West with a 6-7 record, it would be easy to overlook the Guelph Gryphons as a potential threat to the Mustangs winning streak. However, it would also be a mistake.

Guelph has put together one of the most offensively efficient lines in the province to lead the league in total kills. Courtney Sestric and Serena Smith, as Western's top players in the backcourt, will be keeping an eye out for right side Becky Breau and left side Madison Dedecker.

Breau, a five year veteran of the CIS, leads the team with 3.4 points per set and 2.85 kills. Dedecker, a Dorchester native, records 3.1 points per set and 2.63 kills. Perhaps more importantly, she led the offense through the Gryphons' five-set upset of the then CIS no. 5 Marauders.

The victory was marked by a series of comebacks and momentum changes. Guelph, navigating the changing tides more effectively than their opponent, was able to come out on top. The Mustangs will need to keep an eye out for the Gryphons ability to suddenly turn around a set, as such on-court shifts took the purple and white contingent by surprise in their first contest with Lakehead.

To date, Guelph is the only team able to defeat McMaster and one of only three teams who have been able to steal away a set.

The areas in which Guelph has proven to struggle all center around the serve. In the season's first meeting of the Gryphons and Mustangs in October, Western's three-set victory (25-19, 25-21, 25-17) was helped by Guelph's 13 service errors. 

Western vs McMaster – Saturday, January 30 at 6 p.m. - Watch live on OUA.tv

With only two points standing between Western and a first place tie in OUA West, the match against McMaster could determine what position the Mustangs will enter the playoffs.

The Marauders have a nearly flawless 11-1 record to lead OUA West, falling only to the Guelph Gryphons early in the season.

Since their loss, however, the Marauders have made quick work of every team they share a court with. Never needing more than four sets to secure a victory, seven of their 12 contests have been straight three-set sweeps.

The Marauders have proven to be particularly skilled at the service line, where the team has recorded 112 service aces this season. Western, sitting second in the league for reception errors, will have their hands full responding to Joanna Jedrzejewska and Maicee Sorenson, who have 22 and 21 aces on the season.

Jedrzejewska is also the team's greatest weapon at the net. With the third highest number of kills in the OUA (147) and second highest number of kills per set (3.50), Mustang fans can expect to see the 5-7 outside hitter taking on leading Mustang blockers Veltman and Gyimah.