The McMaster Marauders men's volleyball team made quick work of their opponents during the Forsyth Cup quarterfinals, sweeping the Nipissing Lakers 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Burridge Gym.
 
The Lakers hung in tough with their counterparts early on, forcing the Marauders to call a timeout after the visitors went on a three-point run to tighten the score at 14-12 in favour of the home team.
 
Out of the timeout, Matt Passalent and Nathan Delguidice responded sharply, both connecting on consecutive kills, taking the Marauders into the technical time out up 16-12.
 
An ace from Peter Rugosi, as well as a solo block and kill from Wojtek Kraj clinched the opening set for the Maroon 25-14.
 
The Lakers failed to eclipse the 20-point mark all night, going for 16 points in the second set, and 12 in the third.
 
The visiting squad came within a point of the top-seeded Marauders 13-12 midway through the second set, but the Marauders responded swiftly with points from Delguidice, Passalent, and a service ace from Craig Ireland en route to the second set win.
 
The Lakers opened the final set with an early point, but the Marauders retorted with five unanswered points, in due part to three kills from Kraj. The Maroon never looked back from then on, as the Lakers committed 13 errors in the set, giving the Marauders the 25-12 victory, as well as the match.
 
Passalent was efficient as always, connecting on eight kills for a game-high .400 hitting percentage. Delguidice and Ireland added seven and six kills, respectively, while David Doty dished out 29 assists in the win.
 
With the victory, the OUA West top-seeded Marauders not only move on to the next round of the Forsyth Cup, but have earned the right to host next weekend's Final Four championship at the Burridge Gym.
 
Matches will take place this Friday and Saturday, with the Marauders hitting the court at 8pm on the first day with their opponent still to be decided.