The Olympics, a title synonymous with excellence itself, has been a dream for many athletes who have given everything to reach the pinnacle of their sport. After Team Canada defeated Puerto Rico in straight sets, 25-21, 25-15, 25-15, last weekend during the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) qualification tournament final in Vancouver, B.C., a pair of former Marauders in Stephen Maar, and TJ Sanders, took a giant step towards that dream.
 
Graduating from Maroon, and donning the red and white, outside hitter Maar led Team Canada with 12 points in the final against Puerto Rico, while Sanders, a setter with the national team, helped see Canada to another Olympic Games after clinching the final berth with the win.
 
"We are very happy for, and proud of TJ and Stephen" said McMaster Marauders Head Coach Dave Preston. "To see Stephen perform as well as he did on the world stage - leading the tournament as top scorer and top attacker was very special."
 
The two, although they never played in the same season together, have been key factors in the Marauders decade of dominance in the OUA, with Maar hoisting four straight Forsyth trophies on route to being named a 2016 U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian, as well as the 2016 OUA West Most Valuable Player.
 
Taking the next step looks to have been a seamless transition for Preston's former athletes.
 
"We pride ourselves in helping student-athletes become next level ready. Whether that's in the workforce or career path, grad studies or pro level, national team athletes. These gentlemen are a testament to that process."
 
Success on the national level has been a natural consequence for Preston's teams over the years, with multiple athletes climbing the ranks to the senior team. Also a part of the national program are former Marauders Danny Demyanenko, and Brandon Koppers, as well as current Marauder Craig Ireland.
 
Demyanenko, one of the Marauders most decorated athletes, was a three-time U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian under Preston, while Koppers, an essential piece to the multiple title runs, was an OUA all-rookie team member, and first-team all-star. Ireland, currently in his final season with the Marauders, has already been recognized as an OUA all-rookie team member, as well as an OUA second-team all-star, and could follow a similar path to his predecessors.
 
"To have two members of the team that have qualified for Tokyo as well as three other members, Danny Demyanenko, Brandon Koppers, and Craig Ireland in the national team program, is a true statement to the caliber of student athletes at McMaster" proclaimed Preston. 

"It's a good time to be a volleyball enthusiast in Canada, and it's a great time to be a Marauder."
 
Canada, ranked seventh in the world, defeated 24th-ranked Puerto Rico, securing the Olympic berth by being the only undefeated team at the four-country qualification tournament.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic games opening ceremony takes place on Friday July 24th, with volleyball action kicking off a day later on July 25th.