Box Score Playing a Lakehead team on the final day of a three-game road trip, the Marauders took full advantage on Sunday, rolling to a third-consecutive sweep with a 3-0 win over the Thunderwolves.
Set scores were 25-17, 25-16 and 25-21 in favour of McMaster, who improved to 4-1 on the young season with the result, keeping pace with the Western Mustangs atop the OUA West standings. For their part, the Thunderwolves fell to 3-4 with the loss, having dropped two of three matches over the course of the weekend.
Middle Maicee Sorensen led all scorers on Sunday with a total of 13.5 points, killing off 9 of 12 hitting attempts versus just two errors (.583) and adding two aces and two and a half blocks. Also cracking double digits, Taylor Brisebois had 10 kills and an ace for 11 points from the left side.
McMaster led early and often on Sunday, against a Lakehead team that struggled for energy and motivation. After gaining an early lead in the opening set, the Marauders nursed it into the technical timeout, holding a five-point advantage at the break when Taylor Brisebois tipped off a Lakehead block and to the floor in the middle.
The middle-turned-outside struck again to bring the set to an end, finding a touch on a high swing to give Mac the 25-17 decision and the overall lead.
A 8-0 run staked the Marauders to a spotless lead to open the second set, and that deficit proved fatal for the Thunderwolves in the frame. Nothing was going Lakehead's way, and after a serve went through the hands of libero Alyssa Genereux, coach Chris Green was forced into a timeout with his team trailing 13-4.
With the Marauders running away with the set, the Thunderwolves built something of a comeback to draw within eight points at 23-15. But it was far too little, far too late, as Lakehead fell into the block of Alicia Jack to seal the second set in McMaster's favour.
Showing newfound resolve with their backs against the wall, the Thunderwolves seemed bent on making a game of things in the third set, and were within two points of the Marauders at 7-5 early. An extended service run from Lauren Mastroluisi helped Mac extend the lead, and they took a 16-9 advantage into the technical timeout after a badly mis-hit attack from Lakehead.
A few errors crept into the Marauders game late, and the Thunderwolves found themselves within three points at 20-17 after a narrowly-missed shot from Sorensen. But Mac recovered their form in time to avoid a fourth set, winning the third when Michelle Chelladurai touched to the floor from the front row.
