Box Score The Marauder women's volleyball team's hopes of earning a CIS Championship berth ended on Friday night, as they fell to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 3-1 (25-19, 16-25, 19–25, 28-30) in the OUA semi-final at the Goldring Centre. 

The Marauders came out hot and thanks to some great play from OUA Second Team All-Star Maicee Sorensen, led the Blues 16-11 at the first set technical timeout. Toronto rallied to bring the set within four, but the Marauders answered the call to take the first 25-19 and hand U of T their first deficit since October 31. 

Top-seeded Toronto answered in the second set, winning by a decisive nine-point margin, 25-16. All tied up at 1 in the third set, it was a see-saw battle with neither team holding more than a three-point advantage in the early going. A 6-2 Toronto run put U of T up 16-11 and the Blues went on to finish the set 25-19, to put Toronto up 2-1 in the match. 

The Marauders continued to fight into the fourth set and evened the score 17-17. It was back and forth in front of a loud Varsity Blues contingent, side-out until 28-28. The Blues proved why they are ranked no. 2 in the country, and Toronto's Alina Dormann finished the match with a kill, winning the final set 30-28.

Sorensen led the Marauders with 19 points on 11 kills, five blocks and three aces. Teammate Rebecca Steckle notched seven kills, five blocks, one ace and eight digs, while third-year libero Carly Heath led all players with 24 digs in the loss. 

McMaster will play in the OUA bronze medal match at 6pm on Saturday.