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McMaster University Athletics

HOME OF THE MCMASTER MARAUDERS
MVB - Koppers - Windsor
Alistair Boulby
3
Winner McMaster Marauders MAC_M 2-1
1
Guelph Gryphons GUE_M 2-2
Winner
McMaster Marauders MAC_M
2-1
3
Final
1
Guelph Gryphons GUE_M
2-2
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
McMaster Marauders MAC_M 25 25 25 27 0 (3)
Guelph Gryphons GUE_M 18 20 27 25 0 (1)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | Fraser Caldwell, Sport Information Officer

Men's Volleyball: Marauders Weather Gryphons Comeback Attempt to Win in Four

McMaster saved a set point in the fourth before clinching Saturday's match.

What began fairly convincingly devolved into a battle for the Marauders Saturday, as Mac weathered a spirited comeback effort from the Guelph Gryphons to eke out a four-set victory on the road.

Set scores were 25-18, 25-20, 25-27 and 27-25 in favour of McMaster, who improved to 2-1 with the result.

Shouldering his typical burden on the outside, Brandon Koppers (Georgetown, ON) had 44 touches Saturday, converting 19 of them for kills, against nine errors (22.7 per cent), while adding an ace for a match high of 20 points. He was busy on the defensive side of the game as well, leading the match with 14 digs.

Fellow veteran Andrew Richards (London, ON) enjoyed his most prolific offensive night of the young season, adding 14 points including nine kills, two aces and three solo blocks.

Second-year setter David Doty (London, ON) racked up over 10 assists per set in the victory, ending the night with 43, while Calvin Lee (Mississauga, ON) chipped in five of his own in platoon duty.

Starting brightly, the Marauders boasted a seven-point lead before the technical timeout in set one, and induced a timeout from the Gryphons at 13-6 when Koppers uncorked a massive swing from the back row to send his bench into a cheer. Mac was doubling up Guelph at the technical, and the one-way traffic continued as the set approached its conclusion, ultimately ending with a Guelph service error for 25-18.

The second frame was much tighter until it's late stages, as  a solo block from Bennett Swan (Oakville, ON) gave Mac a bit of breathing room at 21-18. From there, the Marauders buckled down, and Swan capped it with an ace to give the visitors a two-set lead.

But Guelph had begun to find their range late in the second, and their comfort on home court grew in set three.

A pair of Marauders helped the Gryphons grab the lead ahead of the technical timeout, and they boasted a four-point cushion when Sam Nothnagel killed for 16-12 and the break.

McMaster stayed within striking distance, before tying the set at 21 on a Richards ace, and ultimately enjoyed two chances to end the match in straight sets. But the Gryphons dealt with both match points, and ultimately won out, when Koppers' attack flew long for 27-25.

A letdown seemed to be in progress for the hosts, as Mac raced out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set and forced an early timeout from Guelph. But the Gryphons narrowed the gap to three at the technical timeout, and pulled level at 22 when Marauders outside Nathan Delguidice (Cochrane, ON) missed his mark.

Much like the third set before it, the Marauders saw a pair of match points go begging, as their 24-22 advantage dissolved after a Zach Newman kill and error from Swan. A point later, the Gryphons earned themselves a set point, when setter Sam Kloke aced the Marauders.

But Mac responded admirably, reeling off three successive kills to put the match to bed, with a Matt Passalent (Hamilton, ON) kill followed by a pair from Koppers.

NEXT UP: McMaster remains on the road, where they will meet the undefeated Lancers in Windsor on Nov. 11. That afternoon match is slated for a 3:00 p.m. first serve.
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