The McMaster Marauders women's volleyball team fell 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-11, 25-23, 15-11) to the Western Mustangs in the fifth set of the quarter-final playoff match, on Saturday evening.

The Marauders hit the stat sheet hard, with Sullie Sundara leading all players with 20 kills. Second-year Christina Stratford led all players in assists putting up 38, with libero Hayley Brookes recording 22 digs.

The Marauders picked up the first set, outscoring the Mustangs 25-23, with a hitting percentage of .196, and 14 kills. After the first set, the match was written to be a close call. The Mustangs responded in the second set reversing the score in their favour, 25-23.

The women in Maroon refused to let up and came out in the third set ont op 25-11. With 31 total attacks and a .355 hitting percentage, in the set the Marauders showed no mercy. 

Continuing the fight into the fourth, the Mustangs came out hungry and the Marauders put up a fight. Despite hitting 10 kills, five blocks, and two service aces, the women in purple outscored the home squad. The kill from Western's Lexi Iggulden sent the game into the fifth set.

First-year Sundara was unhinged in the final set sending down four kills and an assist. With eight kills the Marauders were scoring promisingly, however their six attack errors allowed the Mustangs to steal more points. Team captain Jessie Nairn knocked away the kill for the Marauders last point, which was responded by a Mustangs kill and a bad set, to give away the set 15-11, and the match.

With the loss, the Marauders season comes to an unfortunate end. After setting the league ablaze with a 10-4 record, the team bows out in the quarterfinal stage, but with plenty of young talent, and a 2024 U SPORTS National Championship on the horizon, there's plenty of excitement ahead for this squad.