Hamilton, Ont. - The McMaster women's volleyball team won a hard fought match against the Lakehead Thunderwolves in five sets on Sunday afternoon. Player of the game for McMaster was outside hitter Emily Dennis (Barrie, Ont.).

Lakehead got off to a quick start in the first set with a 4-0 run before the Marauders tied it up at nine. Down two at 13-11, Kailee Stock (Newmarket, Ont.) tooled a Lakehead blocker for a point and another came from setter Amanda Weldon (Hamilton, Ont.) who shanked a Thunderwolves passer. Lakehead earned back their two point lead and both teams traded points up until 20-20 with Stock and middle Shannon McRobert (Whitby, Ont.) up front. An ace from middle Taylor Brisebois (Bolton, Ont.) would give the Marauders the advantage at 21-20 and with Brisebois continuing to serve, McMaster won the first set 25-21. 

In the second, McMaster took an early two point lead at 5-3 before Lakehead came back from a timeout with a big kill in the middle from Michelle Cournoyer (Fort Frances, Ont.). The Thunderwolves later got their first lead of the set at 9-8 off a missed serve from the Marauders. Up 11-8, the Thunderwolves continued to capitalize on missed serves from the Marauders that would eventually give them a four point lead. Two big swings from Brisebois would bring the Marauders back within two at 16-14 but Lakehead used the momentum off McMaster's mistake to take the second set 25-16. 

Both teams showed even strength in the third set as the score went point for point up until the technical timeout at 16-15 in favour of McMaster. McMaster continued to gain momentum with a front row of Stock, McRobert and Mila Krunic (Oakville, Ont.) and woulkd go up 20-17. Later in the match a missed serve and a shank would make it 21 all, but it wouldn't be enough for Lakehead as McMaster earned the next four points for the 25-22 win.

In the fourth, Lakehead went up 9-5 as big swings and blocks came from Lakehead middle Brittany Macleod (Winnipeg, MB). Lakehead maintained their steady three point lead until pulling away for a 16-10 lead at the technical timeout. Not giving up, the Marauders came back to tie it at 17 with key plays coming from McRobert in the middle. Tied at 18 and 19 and then 21, the Marauders were unable to finish off the match in the fourth as Lakehead took the set 25-23. 

Forcing the fifth set, the Thunderwolves didn't have much left as McMaster took a commanding 8-3 lead early on thanks again to a front row that included Stock and McRobert. McMaster continued to capitalize on Lakehead's mistakes and with two McRobert aces at 12-5, Meghan Jamieson (Hamilton, Ont.) would earn the match point with an ace of her own.

McRobert had a team-high 17 points in the match with 10 kills, three aces and four blocks. Also reaching double-digit numbers for the Marauders was Stock with nine kills and two blocks for 11 points and Krunic with six kills two aces and two blocks for 10 more. Setter Amanda Weldon had 30 assists in the win.

For Lakehead, Marjorie Daymond (Ottawa, Ont.) had a game-high 21 points with 18 kills, two aces and a blocks and Macleod had another 14 points for the Thunderwolves with six kills, six aces and two blocks. 

The Marauders host the Ottawa Gee-Gees on November 11 at 12:00 p.m. at Burridge Gymnasium.