Hamilton, Ont. - The McMaster Marauders women's volleyball team took down the Waterloo Warriors in three sets on Friday night at Burridge Gymnasium. Set scores in favour of the Marauders were 25-19, 25-11, 25-17. Libero Meagan Nederveen was named the Big Mac Player of the Game for the Marauders. 

Both teams would trade points throughout the first set early on, all tied up at 8-8. The Marauders would be the first to take a significant lead and from there would earn the two points lead at the technical timeout at 16-14 thanks to a big block from middle Shannon McRobert (Whitby, Ont.). A kill from rookie Lauren Mastroluisi (Ancaster, Ont.) and an ace from McRobert would put McMaster put by two more for a score of 18-14. 

After a timeout called by Waterloo, Warrior Oksana Kozak (Mississauga, Ont.) would connect with setter Kayla Ng (London, Ont.) for the kill and would score two more aces. That, along with a kill from Waterloo's Laura Klein (Kitchener, Ont.) would tie the game up at 18. The Marauders would fight back, winning three points, forcing the Warriors to call their second timeout. An ace from rookie Mira Krunic (Oakville, Ont.) would put Waterloo in their place and from there the Marauders would seal the deal 25-19 on a hit down the line from Kailee Stock (Newmarket, Ont.). 

Early in the second set, McMaster would take a 7-4 lead with three serves from Stock. The Marauders continued to build on that lead with big blocks up front, amounting to a six point lead at 11-5. Throughout the set, the Warriors would continue to flounder on serve receive and the Marauders wouldn't let  up as they capitalized on Waterloo mistakes throughout the set. McMaster would easily earn the second set win at 25-11 and rookie Krunic would already total seven points in the match. 

In the third, both teams would be tied at five points each before Stock came out with an ace on the back line. She would serve three more after that before Waterloo was forced to call a timeout at 9-5. McMaster would double that lead and by the technical timeout, the score would read 16-8 in favour of the Marauders. 

Later in the match, the Warriors would get within five at 17-12 but a miss-hit from Waterloo's Klein would get the ball back for the Marauders. A few aces from middle Camilla Thorne-Tjomsland (Winnipeg, Man.) and a kil from McRobert would put McMaster up by nine at 21-12. A timeout from the Warriors would push them for the last ditch effort to save the set but some step-arounds from McRobert and a number of Waterloo mistakes would see the Marauders win the third 25-17. 

Meagan Nederveen, Big Mac Player of the Game for the Marauders, recorded a game-high 17 digs for McMaster. Mastroluisi, Krunic and McRobert would all score a team-high eight points in McMaster's win over the Warriors and setter Amanda Weldon (Hamilton, Ont.) would recorded 28 assists in the match. Thorne-Tjomsland would recorded another five kills and three blocks for the Marauders. 

For the Warriors, Big Mac Player of the Game honours went to Laura Klein for her game-high 10 kills. Kozak also contributed with six kills and two aces for eight points. 

The Marauders host the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday night at Burridge Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m.