Box Score Taking their first steps in the OUA this season, the Brock Badgers faced a tough test in just their second match Friday, in the form of the dynastic Marauders. McMaster ultimately dispatched Brock in straight sets, but not before some encouraging volleyball from the new boys of the conference.
 
Set scores were 25-11, 25-22 and 25-21 for the U Sports no. 3-ranked Marauders, who moved to 4-0 on the season with the result. After opening their season with a win over the Trent Excalibur, fellow newcomers to the OUA in 2016-17, the Badgers dropped to 1-1.
 
Brandon Koppers led the Marauders, and the match, with 11.5 points, including nine kills, two aces and a block assist, while Andrew Richards had 28 assists over the course of the three-set win and led his team with 10 digs.
 
Struggling to create offence throughout Friday's encounter, the Badgers were held to just .014 hitting, with 21 errors versus 22 kills. Rookie opposite John Elgersma had 11 points, including eight kills and three aces, to lead his team in a losing effort.
 
Mac breezed through the opening set, but found the going considerably tougher in sets two and three, forced to battle through errors of their own while Brock continued to find their feet.
 
The visitors were within a point at 19-18 in the second set, before a Matt Ragogna service error launched a sprint to the finish for the home side, who won six of the last nine points to snatch the set, ending it on a kill from sophomore Matt Passalent.
 
Brock held a lead of as many as three points in the early stages of the third, before McMaster nudged ahead at the technical timeout, grabbing a lead at 16-15 that they would not relinquish.
 
Reeling off another late-set run, the Marauders brought the night to a close with a bang, as Danny Demyanenko violently brought a quick set to the floor for 25-21.
 
McMaster returns to action in a week's time, when the Marauders welcome the Waterloo Warriors to the Burridge Gym on Friday, November 25. The two teams, who last met at the CIS Championship in March, will get play underway at 8:00 p.m.