After a long mid season hiatus from OUA competition, the No. 5 nationally ranked McMaster Marauders volleyball team kicks things into gear this weekend as they take on the Ryerson Rams and Trent Excalibur.
 
Game Day
 
Details
 
vs. Ryerson Rams – Friday Jan. 17^th @ 8pm, OUA.tv
vs. Trent Excalibur – Saturday, Jan. 18^th @ 8pm, OUA.tv
 
McMaster (7-1 record)
 
Standings: 2^nd OUA West division
Streak: Won 5 games
Record: 4-0 at home
 
Ryerson (6-4 record)
 
Standings: 2^nd OUA East division
Streak: Lost 1 game
Record: 3-2 on the road
 
Trent (0-8 record)
 
Standings: 7^th OUA East division
Streak: Lost 8 games
Record: 0-4 on the road
 
History

The Marauders were unstoppable against both opponents last season, coming away with victories in their sole matches over the Rams and Excalibur, both in sweeping fashion 3-0.
 
Matt Passalent was dominant against the Rams, connecting on 35 attacks with only one error to his name for 15 kills in three sets. He also recorded a game-high five aces. Craig Ireland also chimed in with 12 kills of his own, to go along with five assisted blocks, good enough for 17.5 points against the Rams. David Doty was efficient as always, producing 37 assists against the Rams, and 23 against the Excalibur.

What's Good
 
McMaster

• The Marauders ended 2019 in winning fashion, going on a five game win streak including 3-0 sweeps over the No. 9 Toronto Varsity Blues and Waterloo Warriors in their last weekend of OUA competition.
• Efficiency is second nature to this squad, connecting on an OUA best .280 attempts on 90 errors in 22 sets of action.
• Lethal to start each serve, the Marauders are the second best team in service aces, dishing out 2.18 per set.

Ryerson

• The Rams split both their games last weekend, sweeping the Western Mustangs at home, but falling to the No. 10 Windsor Lancers 3-2.
• The Rams are the best blocking team in the OUA, leading in total blocks with 90 and averaging 2.37 per set.
• Despite recording a season-high 48 kills last weekend against the Lancers, the Rams also recorded 22 service errors, also a season-high, in their five set defeat.

 
Trent

• The Excalibur opened the New Year similar to how they closed 2019, falling in straight sets to the Queen's Gaels 3-0 at home.
• Despite the loss, the Excalibur had their best offensive night against the Gaels, hitting .308 for 65 attacks on seven errors – their lowest all season.
• Before taking on the Marauders, the Excalibur will travel to St. Catharines, Ont. to face off against the Brock Badgers.

Key Players
 
McMaster

OH Matt Passalent – 2019 OUA West Most Valuable Player. He currently leads the league in hitting percentage, connecting on .467 on only nine errors for the year.

OH Craig Ireland – 2019 OUA West second-team all-star. Fourth amongst all players in the OUA in  service aces averaging 0.48 per set.
 
Ryerson
 
OH Xander Ketrzysnki – OUA East Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year. Currently leads the OUA in kills per set with 4.68.

MB Navreet Suhan – OUA East second-team all-star. Leads the league in assisted blocks with 23, giving him 0.97 blocks per set – the third best mark in the OUA.

Trent
 
OH Nicholas Taylor – Leads his team and is ranked in the top 30 of the OUA in kills per set, averaging 2.07.

OP Matthew Bergin – Ranked 11^th in the OUA in blocks per set with 0.69.