Early success allowed the Marauders to tinker Saturday, as McMaster ran through several lineup options and saw balanced contributions on both the offensive and defensive ends on route to a sweep of the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Marking the end of a spotless month of January, McMaster won their sixth straight contest of the New Year and extended their streak to 19 sets unbeaten with a 25-10, 25-17, 25-20 victory.
Fourth-year outside
Jill Eisenhauer (Toronto, ON)led the Marauders with 9.5 points, including six kills on 14 attempts versus two errors (.286), an ace and two and a half blocks.
While their own offence was far from its best Saturday, the Marauders effectively stifled the Thunderwolves throughout the contest, holding the visitors to a negative hitting average of -.092 with just 19 kills versus 27 errors on 87 attempts.
McMaster opened the night with a 9-0 run, and kept the pressure on Lakehead to enter the technical timeout with an 11-point lead after an error from Thunderwolves outside Leah Mousseau.
There was little resistance on offer from there, and the Marauders closed the set with another run, winning eight of the final 10 points to run away with it, as Jennifer Hammerton's service error brought a merciful end at 25-10.
A pivotal service run from Eisenhauer saw McMaster wrap seven consecutive points around the technical timeout in the second set, building a 17-6 lead by the time the damage was done.
Despite late signs of life, which hinted at a more coherent effort to come in the third, Lakehead simply had too far to climb in the second. The visitors staved off four consecutive set points to draw within seven of the Marauders, before Jessie Nairn connected on a high ball on the right side to end the second.
Taking their first lead of the match in the early stages of the third set, the Thunderwolves won three of the first four points before the Marauders re-asserted control and reeled off an incredible 15-2 run to build an 11-point lead at the technical timeout.
It all seemed comfortable for the home side, but Lakehead began to dictate with their block, and found fruitful rotations with Meghan Routier and Mousseau at the service line, roaring back to within three points at 23-20.
A timeout from McMaster righted the ship in short order, however, as the Marauders quickly claimed the next two points, and the match.
NEXT UP: The Marauders begin a four-match road trip with a visit to Kingston, where they face the RMC Paladins on Saturday, February 3 and the Queen's Gaels on Sunday, February 4. Both of those matches are scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m.
