Applying constant pressure from the service line, the Marauders were able to keep the Waterloo Warriors firmly on the back foot Saturday in a one-sided edition of a long-held rivalry.
McMaster enjoyed productive nights from their usual suspects, and managed to mix and match the lineup in the later stages, en route to a 25-15, 27-25, 25-16 win.
The victory improved the U SPORTS no. 7-ranked Marauders to 10-1 in OUA play, comfortably atop the OUA West divisional standings.
Reprising their roles as Mac's leading hitters, the combo of Brandon Koppers, Matt Passalent and Andrew Richards had a total of 35 kills between them.
Koppers took his turn as the leading light, with 13 kills from 28 attempts versus four errors (.321), adding a block assist for 13.5 points.
A constant thorn in Waterloo's side from the right side, Passalent hit 50 per cent in the win, converting on 12 of 20 attempts versus just two errors while adding an ace for 13 points.
Operating at the heart of a rotating cast of characters, which saw a total of 11 Marauders enjoy court time, setter David Doty was effective in creating 35 assists in less than three full sets of work.
Waterloo was playing their first match of the New Year, and the rust was visible from the opening whistle, as McMaster pounded their way to an early 13-7 lead with the help of a slew of errors from the hosts.
Wrapping a seven-point run around the technical timeout, which included five kills from four different scorers, the Marauders looked in total control in taking a 20-10 lead.
A Richards kill and Bennett Swan ace brought up set points at 24-12, giving Nathan Delguidice the breathing room to rebound from two denials and kill to seal the set four points later.
Putting together a another six-point run early in the second set, McMaster looked well in control as Koppers killed for 8-3.
But as the Marauders tinkered with the lineup, errors began to creep into their game, and the Warriors were opportunistic in working back into the set, pulling within two points at 16-14 after a rare miss from Richards.
McMaster kept a slender lead in place until a four-point run from Waterloo saw the hosts draw level at 22-all and put the fate of the set in the balance.
Remaining composed as the leverage ratcheted up, the Marauders never trailed, and ultimately found their opening when Koppers killed for 26-25 and Passalent followed with one of his own to snatch the set away.
Discouraged by the near miss of the second set, the Warriors seemingly faded in the third, and posed little threat as the Marauders raced toward the sweep.
The visitors boasted a nine-point lead at the technical timeout, and the home side got no closer than eight, as Mac made quick work of the set and saw it out when Delguidice killed for 25-16.
NEXT UP: McMaster enjoys nearly two full weeks away from competition, before heading to Kingston to battle the RMC Paladins and Queen's Gaels on February 3 and 4.
