WINDSOR, Ont. – With his team's seeding and quarterfinal matchup in the Forsyth Cup playoffs already set in stone, McMaster Marauder head coach Dave Preston used the final regular season game against the University of Windsor Lancers (10-7) as an opportunity to explore the depth that has allowed his team to reach No. 2 in the national rankings.

Both teams would trade jabs in all three sets in what turned out to be a rather competitive bout, but each time Windsor's front line came up with big rallies when it counted.

Although McMaster (15-2) would drop the contest in straight sets (25-23, 25-20, 25-17), they were able to get 11 players into the mix in the final tune-up while scratching eight regulars from the lineup for rest. More concerned with setting his team up for post-season success, Preston gladly traded in his team's 13-game winning streak for a chance to get more guys reps against a quality opponent in a hostile environment.

The Marauders' unfamiliar cast was led offensively by freshman Sam Cooper who contributed a match-high 12 kills in his sixth start of the year. Peter Rugosi also had an efficient night for the maroon with 11 kills (career high) on 26 total attacks (.269).

Setters Zach Christensen and Francois Albert split time quarterbacking the Marauder attack and finished with 16 and 14 assists respectively.

NEXT UP: Having already locked up the top seed, the Marauders have secured a bye to the Forsyth Cup quarterfinals and will host the Nipissing Lakers on February 29^th. The Marauders' first playoff match will begin at 2 p.m. inside Burridge Gymnasium.

McMaster has owned the series in recent memory having won 11 straight matches against the Lakers including a 3-1 victory in North Bay back on November 9^th.  Nipissing will come to Hamilton sporting an 8-9 record having lost four straight to end the regular season.