Friday, Nov. 2: No. 11 Cascades (3-3, T-4th in PACWEST) vs. No. 2 Douglas Royals (4-0, 2nd in PACWEST), 6 p.m., Envision Financial Athletic Centre
Saturday, Nov. 3: Cascades at Royals, 1 p.m., New Westminster B.C.
Webcast: pacwestbc.tv

The Cascades' home-and-home match-up with the Douglas Royals this weekend will serve as an effective measuring stick at the midpoint of the fall semester. The Royals are the reigning PACWEST champions, and went on to win silver at the CCAA national championships last season.

"They're a very well-prepared, and excellent at executing game-plans," Cascades head coach Mike Gilray said of the Royals. "They'll be one of our toughest match-ups this season, for sure. Jeff Ross is a great coach, and he's got some great athletes in his program. (Royals setter) Jane Kepler has great weapons at her disposal in last season's rookie of the year Caet McCorkell and player of the year Vania Oliveira, and they've got some very strong middle blockers.

"Overall, they're a very consistent team with a lot of depth. They've had different lineups every night, and they'll be ready for us coming off a bye week."

Players to watch: Cascades fifth-year captain Kim Bauder picked up PACWEST women's volleyball athlete of the week honours, and was subsequently named one of the CCAA female athletes of the week, after leading the UFV squad to a split on the road vs. Camosun last weekend. She's currently second overall on the PACWEST's total offence list (3.85 points/set), and she's first in aces (1.11/set) and fourth in kills (2.53/set). The Royals, meanwhile, boast three of the conference's top six players in total offence, with rookie outside hitter Grace Warkentin leading the way at 4.00 points/set.