HAMILTON, Ont. — This Friday, the McMaster Marauders (4-6) were back in Burridge gym to take on the Windsor Lancers (10-1).
The Marauders would end the weekend 1-1.
On Friday, Maxime Gratton (Ottawa, Ont.) allowed the Marauder offense to take flight early in set one with a kill, but an offensive run by Windsor, would force a McMaster timeout. This chance for the Marauders to regroup proved worthy as Gratton would again come up with a big kill heading out of the timeout. Jared Kuiken (London, Ont.) would add some offense of his own with a service ace mid way through the set. Seth O’Brien (Kingston, Ont.) kept the Marauders alive in set one with a huge kill on set point, and Kaden Zunti (Burlington, Ont.) would follow up with a service ace to keep the set going but Windsor would get the next point to win set one 25-14.
Throughout set two the score would remain close. Early on, Zunti hit a massive cross court smash to tie the game at three. Later on, a service ace from Kuiken would keep the Lancers alert. The Marauders would continue to tie up the score multiple times with a big block by Ashton Fox-Kristensen (Elora, Ont.) and later another service ace from Kuiken. The Marauder offense would continue the pressure when a huge hit from Fox-Kristensen found some open court along with Jack Mackley (Toronto, Ont.) hitting a service ace to put McMaster up by one late in the set. Despite a trio of kills by O’Brien to force set point three different times, McMaster would fall 29-27 to Windsor in set two.
McMaster was able to force a fourth set thanks in part to service aces from both Zunti and Gratton. McMaster’s offense would stay hot throughout the later half of the set when O’Brien came up with a huge kill for set point leading the Marauders to a 25-21 win in the third set.
McMaster played catch up early but fought back to tie it at 10 after back to back kills by Gratton. Jason Heidbuurt (Hamilton, Ont.) fooled the Lancers with a tip over to tie the game at 16. McMaster battled to keep the score close but would lose set four 25-22.
On Saturday, the Marauders were back with energy to take on the Lancers again after Friday’s close loss. The Marauders were able to turn things around this match taking a 3-2 victory in the fifth set.
The first set was a strong for Gratton with multiple, powerful kills. Service aces from Fox-Kristensen helped the Marauders take the one point lead halfway through and the Marauders were able to take victory in this set, with a score of 25-23.
The second set was filled with many long rallies and notable kills. The Marauders held onto the lead for most of this set, with Zunti adding a service ace, in addition to multiple kills. The final score of the set was close once again, with McMaster stealing a 25-21 victory.
The battle continued in set three with the score remaining close. Unfortunately, for the Marauders, the set was lost 25-19, leading to a fourth set. The fourth began with the Marauders leading early and after some more back and forth action the Lancers mounted a comeback to take the set 26-24, and force a fifth set.
Heidbuurt helped keep the Marauder’s energy high in the fifth and final set with a service ace to pull the team ahead. The Marauders fought hard, leaving the Lancers to call multiple timeouts this set. The Marauders held onto the lead this set and won it 15-9, ending the day with a 3-2 win.
Up Next: McMaster will be in Toronto next Friday and Saturday to take on TMU.
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