Western is back on the court for OUA action, and looking to keep their undefeated season intact when they head down to Windsor for their first matchup of 2017.
 
While the Mustangs come into this week aiming to move to 9-0 on the year, the Lancers will also be looking to kick off the year on a high note with the hope of improving their current 3-4 record.
 
While this is the first official meeting of the two squads this year, they did face off in exhibition action in Chatham in September. The Mustangs walked away with a three set sweep, and will be looking to strike down Windsor equally as quickly this weekend.
 
Just as they have all season long, Aja Gyimah and Kelsey Veltman can be expected to top the purple and white scoresheet. A two-time First Team All-Canadian, Veltman averages 5.2 points per set and 3.83 kills. The King's College student has totalled 150.5 points over eight games for the second highest total in Ontario.
 
Gyimah, despite being sidelined for three games due to injury, follows Veltman on the score-sheet and averages 3.8 points per set.  
 
Windsor will most likely rely on the talent of Carleigh Bailey to track down the ball and prevent Western from cutting the rallies short. The Burlington native rotated between serving as an outside hitter and a middle since 2013, but has switched to libero for her fourth season.
 
Bailey leads the league in digs and digs-per-set, but has also proven that she's able to step in for setter Megan Kalbfeisch and provide a stable second touch when the team gets out of system.
 
Looking at the purple and white numbers compared to Windsor, it's easy to think that the purple and white defensive game has struggled. The team sits towards the lower end of the league when it comes to digs, and digs-per-set. However, considering that Western leads the OUA in blocking, it's likely that the ball just doesn't make it over the net enough for the Mustangs to rack up impressive numbers.
 
Veltman, Gyimah, and lone fifth-year veteran Candice Scott are the top three blockers on the roster, with Scott and Gyimah predominately recording assisted blocks.
 
Blocking is also a strength of the Lancers however, as they're only team to record a higher number of solo blocks. Leading the effort is Emily McCloskey, the only middle in the OUA able to rival Veltman at the net.  
 
Game time at Windsor's St. Denis Centre is set for 1 p.m., with fans able to catch all the action live on OUA.tv.