Hamilton, Ont. - Kevin Stevens (Winnipeg, M.B.) had a game-high 13 points in McMaster's win over the visiting Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday night. The game only went to three with set scores of 25-22, 25-19, 25-20.

In the first set both teams would trade points before McMaster took an early 6-2 lead with swings from Tyson Alexander (Shanty Bay, Ont.) in the middle. Toronto would call a timeout at 8-3. After the timeout, McMaster would make a few errors to allow the Blues to pull within two before calling a timeout of their own. Regaining the five point lead later on, the technical timeout would see a score of 16-11.

After the timeout, the teams would trade points again and the Blues would get within one at 18-17 and again at 20-19 with a tool from Toronto's Matthew Vares (Scarborough, Ont.). Stevens would help the Marauders keep the lead but Toronto would finally tie it up at 22. 

A missed serve from the Blues followed by a hitting error gave McMaster the two points lead at 24-22 and they would close it would with an error from Toronto setter Steven Khuu (Lethbridge, Alta.). 

In the second, it would be tied at five before the Marauders too a three point lead to go ahead 9-6. The four point lead at 12-8 would force Toronto to call a timeout. After the strategically called timeout, the Blues would get within one at 1413 but the Marauders would get three in a row to get to the technical timeout with a big kill from Stevens to make the score 16-13.

The Marauders extended their lead to four at 21-17 thanks to a big presence in the front row from Shayne Petrusma (Burlington, Ont.). A kill by Alex Elliott (Cobourg, Ont.) would put McMaster up by four and it would be smooth sailing from there are the Marauders earned their second set win of the night with a score of 25-19.

In set three an ace from Elliott early on put the Marauders up by three at 5-2 but Toronto would fight back with an ace of their own. A setter dump from Khuu kept Toronto in the game early on only down by one. McMaster regained the three points lead at 8-5 thanks to some Toronto errors and the lead would extend to four at 12-8 before Toronto called a timeout. The timeout wouldn't do the Blues any good as McMaster scored four more and the Blues scored just one to go into the technical timeout 16-11. 

The Marauders maintained their five point lead up until 21-16 but two Marauder mistakes allow Toronto to gain some momentum. Outside hitter Jori Mantha (Vanier, Ont.) did well to shut down their momentum with a tool from the right side. The Marauders would finish out the game with a five point lead with a score of 25-20. 

Player of the game for McMaster was Stevens who recorded 12 kills and an ace for a game-high 13 points. Petrusma added eight kills and a block for nine points and middles Elliot and Alexander both recorded eight points in the Marauders' win.

For Toronto, player of the game honours went to JR Hammond (Calgary, Alta.). Mitchell Woodside (Clyde River, P.E.I) had ten points for the Blues and Jake Dysselhof (Mississauga, Ont.) recorded another eight.

The Marauders finish out the first half of the season with a 7-2 record, good for second place in the league and will resume their schedule in the new year.