The Mustangs will hit this road following a weekend of ups and downs. Specifically, the lowest point came from Friday's game against Guelph, while the high point was undoubtedly the full-team effort that led to a three-set sweep of the CIS No. 10 Waterloo Warriors. If you were to cue up game tape of both games and play them side-by-side, it would be hard to tell that it was the same team.
 
Head coach Jim Sage, and middles Mike Choja and Chris Newcombe all readily admitted in post-game interviews that the level of play differed greatly between the two games. If the Mustangs are able to maintain the energy and precision they displayed on Sunday afternoon, there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to compete for a medal this year.
 
One area where the Mustangs will need to improve on if they're looking to break McMaster's longstanding reign over the OUA banner is serving. Service errors have broken purple and white point runs over the last few games, and severs whatever momentum they were able to get going at key times.
 
However, their offensive versatility has the potential to make up for errors at the base line. Sunday's resounding victory saw the Mustangs rely on a number of athletes to put the ball over the net, with standout plays made all over the court.
 
Bryn Ramsay and Gavin Taylor have been leading the team in points, while Newcombe and Choja were integral to the team's most recent win.
 
Ramsay first emerged as a force to be reckoned with last season, and has since carved out a spot for himself in the starting lineup. The Nursing student currently leads the team with 36.5 points, averaging a team-high 3.7 per set. He also leads the team in service aces (6), digs (17), and is one of the top blockers on the roster.
 
Taylor is just one point away from matching Ramsay's total, recording 35.5 points over ten sets of action.
 
Former OUA All-Rookie Team member Matt Hooker continues to serve as starting setter, while Nathan Phelps has continued in his role as starting libero.
 
Friday, November 11 at RMC – 8 p.m.
 
The 2-1 RMC Paladins have always been resilient in the past, but this this year they appear to be stronger than ever before. In addition to their characteristic unbreakable focus, a number of individual standouts have been pushing the Paladins to success this year.
 
Sophomore Dale Towe is the one to watch on the RMC roster, as he leads the Paladins with 40 points over three games. The business administration student's six aces – matching Ramsay's total – puts him in a three way tie for second in the league. Only Ryerson's Lucas Coleman has recorded a higher number, edging ahead with just seven.
 
A member of the 2015-16 CIS All-Rookie Team, Towe also leads the Paladins in the backcourt, currently boasting a team-high 2.18 digs per set.

The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., following a 6 p.m. matchup between the Paladin and Mustangs women's teams. 
 
Saturday, November 12 at Queen's – 8 p.m. – Watch live on OUA.tv
 
Saturday's matchup is often one of the most highly anticipated pairings of the season, as a longtime rivalry is renewed and reinvigorated once again.
 
Last season saw the teams meet four times – twice in the regular season and twice in exhibition. Queen's came out on top in three of those contests, with the Mustangs winning only four of 12 sets.
 
But it's a new year, and a whole new team. The top five point generators for the 2015-16 Gaels are all absent from this seasons roster, with Marko Dakic, Scott Brunet, Mike Tomlinson, Chris Brunet, and Tyler Scheerhoorn all moving on. Also absent from the roster is former CIS Libero of the Year Ivo Dramov.
 
With the departure of so many key athletes, Queen's has come to rely on Markus Trence and Zac Hutcheson at the net. Trence leads the team in points, averaging 5.1 per set, while Hutcheson has averaged 3.6 and recorded the OUA's second highest hitting percentage.
 
Dylan Hunt also has the potential to create trouble for the Mustangs. His 11 total blocks put him firmly in second place within the OUA, while his 1.00 blocks-per-set average is third overall. However, the Mustangs have already bested the OUA's top blocker in Waterloo's Jordan McConkey.
 
Assuming Western is able to perform at a similar level to their Sunday afternoon contest with the Warriors, the Mustangs can be expected to put up a fight.

Game time is set for 8 p.m., with fans able to catch all the action live on OUA.tv.