The Mustangs will head into their final weekend of action with a 12-5 record and sitting comfortably in second within the OUA West. This week will see them host Guelph and Waterloo at Alumni Hall, with the matchup against the Warriors also serving as the team's annual Senior Day contest.
 
Prior to the game, Kat Tsiofas, Aja Gyimah, Danielle Grasman, Katie McKenna, and Taylor Beedie will all be recognized for their contributions to the program.
 
The combination of Senior Day and the solidified playoff berth may cause some variation in the purple and white lineup. The veteran corps are expected to receive a decent amount of playing time against Waterloo, but the Guelph game may look a bit different.
 
Considering the athlete turnover this season, head coach Melissa Bartlett may decide to utilize the purple and white bench more as she prepares younger athletes to take on bigger roles next season. Win or lose, the game will have no bearing on the Mustangs playoff positioning, meaning fans may see a bit of a different lineup at times.
 
Regardless of what combination of players takes the floor, the bread and butter of the purple and white game is expected to stay the same. Western's powerful middles have dominated for much of the season, leading the OUA in blocking while also elevating the Mustangs hitting percentage. Grasman and Kelsey Veltman have been the starters all season long, but Kate Ferguson and Kristina Curcin have also proven that they are more than capable of stepping into a bigger role on the team.
 
Western's most recent weekend of action saw the team fall to the OUA West leading Marauders in three sets, with two notable absences from the lineup. Neither Tsiofas nor Veltman was on the floor and while Jessica Lam performed well as starting setter, it's nearly impossible to replace Veltman's OUA leading 4.8 points per set.
 
In addition to having the team's highest point totals and averages, Veltman is arguably one of the best all-around athletes on the roster. Her attack is rarely adequately handled by the opposition, and she has developed into one of the most lethal servers in the OUA. The last three games in which she competed saw her rack up five aces per game – miles above her current .57 average.
 
Her presence on the floor may determine the outcome of this weekend's matchups for the Mustangs, as she has proven to be one of the most dominant players in the nation over her four years at Western.
 
Friday, February 23 – 6:00pm vs. Guelph
 
This weekend represents a pair of high-stakes games for the Gryphons, as they are currently entangled in a three-way tie for third place in the OUA West. Windsor and Waterloo are also fighting for the spot, with the Lancers set to play both teams as well this week.
 
Guelph and Western have already met once this season, on October 27. The game served as the season opener for both teams and saw Western come away with a 3-0 victory.
                                                                                           
Attacking was a weak spot for the Gryphons, who had only two athletes of the ten that played generate more points than they lost while in the front court. However, Guelph's offence has slowly improved since the beginning of the season, and were the first team to take a set off the undefeated Ryerson Rams in November.
 
Michaela Hellinga can be expected to take the majority of touches for the Gryphons, as the left side averages 3.07 kills and 2.5 points per set.
 
Middle Libby Donevan may also prove to be a game changer for the Gryphons. She only began playing in the new year, and has played in every single set since. She currently averages 2.75 kills and 4.0 points. Despite missing half of the season, she currently ranks 17th in the OUA for total blocks, averaging 1.16 per set.
 
Saturday, February 24 – 6:00pm vs. Waterloo
 
The 7-10 Waterloo Warriors will need a pair of wins this weekend to secure third place in the OUA West, and ensure their progression into the first round of playoffs. As it currently stands, they may drop down to fifth depending upon the performances of Guelph and Windsor and therefore be removed from playoff contention all together.
 
Waterloo's defensive efforts have been the strongest point of their game throughout the season. Liberos Sarah Remedios and Sarina Trasolini have split time this year, although this weekend may see one of them suit up as an outside hitter and subbed on to play backcourt positions.
 
The Warriors have also been able to out-block their competitors, although their numbers still fall short of that posted by the purple and white roster.
 
Offensively speaking, Claire Mackenzie is likely to anchor the Waterloo attack. Her 3.4 points per set and 2.94 kills per set represent team highs – with no other athlete averaging more than 2.5 points per set.