The McMaster volleyball teams will be at home to open the 2011-12 OUA conference schedule this coming weekend. On Friday, October 21, the Marauders will welcome the Windsor Lancers to the Burridge Gym for a doubleheader, while on Saturday, October 22, the Western Mustangs will come to Hamilton to provide the competition.

Game times on both nights see the women play at 6 p.m., followed by men’s action at 8 p.m. The Friday night matches will be broadcast live on Cable 14 and streamed online.

For the Marauder women’s team, the opening weekend is the start of a season-long journey that will end with McMaster hosting the CIS women’s volleyball championship in March of 2012. The Marauders tied for the best record in the OUA last season, and expect to again contend for the OUA title. Coach Tim Louks understands the season is a marathon, rather than a sprint, but knows a good start to conference play is vital to the process of being ready to host Canada’s best teams in five months.

For the Marauder men’s team, it is currently the standard bearer in the OUA as the league’s most successful team in recent years. A new season brings new challenges though, and Coach Dave Preston won’t allow the team to rest on past laurels. Windsor and Western are top OUA contenders this season, and fans can expect high intensity play this weekend. Preston believes the Marauders will be pushed all season as the team tries to win another OUA championship.

With lots of new talent donning Maroon this year, high flying excitement should be the norm for both Marauder teams as they defend home turf in the Burridge Gym.