The Mustangs will return to the court this weekend for their first regular season action since a November 25 triumph over RMC as the Mustangs hit the road to take on the Ryerson Rams and Brock Badgers.
 
The team will head into their games well prepared for the return to action, as they forfeited downtime in favour of a pair of tournaments at the end of December and in early January.
 
University of Winnipeg's Wesmen Classic saw the Wesmen host the Mustangs, the Manitoba Bison, UNB Varsity Reds, Brandon Bobcats, Regina Cougars, Laval Rouge et Or, and Ryerson Rams. The new slate of competition proved to be challenging, but the Mustangs ended the weekend on a high note with a five set win over the Varsity Reds.  
 
Western then kicked off 2018 with a silver medal at the York Excalibur tournament – an annual multi-day tournament that brings together a handful of high performing teams from the OUA, OCAA, AUS, and CEGEP. Humber, Nipissing, and Toronto all fell to the Mustangs during round robin, with the only blemish on the purple and white record coming from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Moving into the championship game, the Mustangs suffered their second loss of the tournament at the hands of the Dalhousie Tigers.
 
Matt Hooker was named the tournament's top setter on the final day of competition, which should come as no surprise to fans of the purple and white. The fourth-year Ivey Business student and team captain has earned rave reviews from his teammates all season long, often lauded for his decision making and leadership in addition to his technical skill.
 
Bryn Ramsay has been Hooker's favourite target throughout the season, with a team high 210 attack attempts. The fifth-year nursing student averages 3.1 points per set, narrowly trailing middle Chris Newcombe's 3.2 points.
 
Western at Ryerson – January 12, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
 
The 6-1 Ryerson Rams will host the Mustangs to kick off the second half of the regular season in their first game since suffering the only loss of the season.
 
November 25 saw the Rams head to Waterloo only to be swept in straight sets (25-13, 25-21, 25-19). Prior to that game, Ryerson had only dropped a total of three sets across a three-game span.
 
Professional Communications student Lucas Coleman led the team offensively in the loss – just as he has all year long. 
 
He averaged 4.3 points per set throughout the first half of the season to fall within the top ten highest scoring athletes in the league, while also recording the fifth-highest number of kills per set (3.76) and fifth highest hitting percentage (.295).
 
Brendan Kewin is the second most notable offensive threat, as he currently averages 3.23 kills per set and 3.8 points per set.
 
The duo will be closely tracked at the net by Western's preeminent blockers in Evan Hammond and Chris Newcombe. The middles have helped Western become one of the strongest teams in the OUA in regard to defence at the net, and alleviated some of the burden placed on Bryn Ramsay who leads the team in the backcourt.
 
Ryerson narrowly edges out Western on the OUA statistical charts, with an average of 2.30 blocks per set. Senior middle blocker Brett Whitley and rookie Navreet Suhan have led the Rams this season, although each average less than one per set.
 
Western at Brock – January 13, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
 
The Brock Badgers will welcome the Mustangs with the hope of securing their first win of the season, having already fallen to Guelph, Waterloo, Windsor, McMaster, Toronto, and the Mustangs.
 
Western secured a 3-1 win over the Badgers last time the two faced off in early November, with Evan Cranshaw leading the way for the Mustangs. Tim Spisar was the primary offensive weapon for Brock, but fans can expect Logan House to take control on Saturday.
 
The 6-5 left side is still in his introductory season with the Badgers, but is quickly making a name for himself. He has more than 20 points on the next highest scoring athlete on the roster, and leads the team with 3.6 points per set. The second highest average comes from Peter Schnabel with 2.4.
 
Fans should also keep an eye on Felipe Costa. Brock's second-year libero currently sits atop the OUA for digs per set (2.82), while also being entangled in a three-way tie for third in total digs with Waterloo's Aidan Simone, and Ramsay.
 
While Brock's 0-6 record may make it easy to dismiss the team as a non-threat, they have already proved that they can compete with – and beat – their competitors. Only two of their losses were full sweeps as the Badgers managed to take a set off of Waterloo, Windsor, Guelph, and the Mustangs.