Box Score The Marauders' bid for a perfect season came to an abrupt end on Friday, at the hands of the Waterloo Warriors.

McMaster saw a fourth-set lead evaporate and the fifth slip out of its reach, as Waterloo clinched the deciding frame by a 15-10 margin to hand the CIS no. 1-ranked Marauders their first loss of the season.

James Evans led the Warriors with a total of 23 points, including 21 kills, one ace and one block.

Jori Mantha was the Marauders' leading scorer in a losing effort, posting an identical total of 23 points, while converting on 20 of 45 hitting attempts versus seven errors (28.9 per cent) and adding one ace and two blocks.

McMaster (14-1) remains atop the OUA standings with the loss, while Waterloo (12-3) takes sole possession of second place.

The teams engaged in a gruelling opening set that established the competitive balance that would hold throughout the night. Nearly inseparable, the Marauders and Warriors spilled well into extra points before Alex Elliot's kill sealed the set for McMaster at 32-30.

Much like the first before it, the second set was a neck-and-neck affair. This time, however, Waterloo got the best of the extra volleyball, winning the frame when Danny Demyanenko's attack went wayward for 29-27.

To their credit, the Marauders instantly rebounded from that narrow loss, racing ahead of the Warriors en route to a dominant 25-13 victory in the third set that placed the pressure firmly on the home side.

It appeared that McMaster had the edge it needed in the fourth, as the Marauders held a 20-16 advantage before the Warriors reeled off a dramatic run to win nine of the next 11 points and level the match at two sets apiece.

Momentum stayed with the hosts, who built an early lead in the abbreviated fifth set and never relinquished it.

Having suffered their first setback of the season, the Marauders will look to rebound when they return to home court on Sunday, where they will meet the Guelph Gryphons. That match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.