TORONTO, Ont. — This Friday, the McMaster Marauders kicked off their 2024 season with a doubleheader against the Toronto Varsity Blues. 

McMaster made quick work of the Varsity Blues winning both matches 3-0. 

McMaster trailed Toronto early in the first set but Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) would help McMaster close the gap with a series of blocks and a service ace. The Marauders were able to tie it up at 12 and they never looked back. Emma McKinnon (Milton, Ont.) and Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.) were relentless with their hitting, set up by Chayse Victoria (Oakville, Ont.) and were able to edge out Toronto in the first set winning it 25-23.

The battle would continue into set number two. Again, McMaster would find themselves behind in the set but fought their way back into the game with a pair of service aces by McKinnon and Sundara. To finish off a tight race in set two, McKinnon and Sundara provided back to back kills, and later on, a block from Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) would help win the set 27-25 for McMaster.

McMaster took hold of set 3 early on, leading by as many as nine. The Varsity Blues would stage a late comeback tying the game at 22. Sundara would help give McMaster a last bit of energy with a few kills late in the set and a service ace to win the final set 27-25. 
 

The following day the Marauders would face the Varsity Blues again. McMaster got their footing early in the first set thanks to back to back kills from Sundara and a service ace from Victoria. Julien kept the offense rolling, adding back to back kills as well mid way through the set. A service ace came from Payton Entwistle (Jerseyville, Ont.) to help push the Marauders past the Varsity Blues in set one with a score of 25-18. 

In set two, McMaster trailed Toronto early but later on were able to tie the game at 18 with a massive block from Delamere.  A service ace from Jennifer Wu (Burlington, Ont.), accompanied by more outstanding offense would lead McMaster past Toronto to win it 25-20. 

Set three was a tighter battle with both teams exchanging points early on. Toronto was able to keep the score close during the final set but McMaster continued the pressure late in the set with a few kills by McKinnon. Delamere and Omosefe Osaghae (Barrie, Ont.) helped out on defense with a couple of blocks to sweep the Varsity Blues and win the final set 27-25. 

Up Next: Another double header against the Nippising Lakers at Burridge Gym, November 1st and 2nd.