Battling each other to a standstill through five sets at Burridge Gym, the Marauders and Badgers saw Sunday decided with a few crucial points at its conclusion, with Brock gaining the final edge.

The Marauders held a 2-1 advantage through three sets, but dropped the fourth before being edged by the minimum in the fifth and deciding set (25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 15-25, 13-15).

With the loss, McMaster dropped to 6-5 on the season, and sit tied with the Western Mustangs for fourth in the OUA West division.

Easily setting a career single-match high, Kamila Haase racked up eight solo blocks in the loss, ending the afternoon with a total of 14.5 points including four kills and two aces.

Right side Jessie Nairn had a match high of 12 kills, adding an ace and one solo block for 14 points.

With offence proving tough to come by Sunday, both teams were held under 10 per cent hitting across the five sets of play, with Brock hitting 49 kills and 34 errors and McMaster hitting 44 and 33 respectively.

After the Badgers saw out the fourth set to force a decider, the Marauders rebounded to win five of the first seven points of it, helped by kills from Haase and left side Maddie Lethbridge.

Brock stayed in touch through the changeover, and sprung ahead at 13-12 after a Marauders attacking error forced coach Tim Louks to burn his second timeout of the set.

Three points later, the visitors took the match at their first opportunity, as middle Grace Pyatt found the floor with the ace for 15-13.

NEXT UP: McMaster travels to Thunder Bay to battle the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27. First serve for both matches is due for 2:00 p.m.