London, Ont. — The McMaster Marauders women's volleyball team (6-2) played in two very close matches as they visited London to take on the Western Mustangs (6-0).

Match 1 vs Western (Nov 15, 2024)
 
On Friday, the Marauders had a rough start to set one as the Mustangs took an early 7-2 lead. Emma McKinnon's (Milton, Ont.) successful attack and a service ace by Chayse Victoria (Oakville, Ont.) kickstarted the Marauders offense. Kills by Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) and Victoria closed the Mustangs advantage to three. The Mustangs went on an 8-1 run and held a comfortable 20-10 lead. McKinnon added another kill as the Marauders fell 25-14 in set one.
 
Set two began with a 3-0 lead for the Mustangs. The Marauders responded with five straight scores highlighted by kills from McKinnon and Victoria. It was very back-and-forth as fourth year, Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.), scored to tie the game at 11. Lutes added another score and McKinnon with two successful attacks put the Marauders up by three. Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.) made a huge impact in the final stages of set two as she earned three kills and a service ace. McKinnon and Victoria ended the set with two successful attacks. The Marauders won 25-20.
 
The Marauders were up 5-4 in the early going of set three as Delamere sent the ball past the Mustangs defenders. The game was at 10-10 when kills by Lutes and McKinnon placed the Marauders in front by four. The Mustangs answered back with three straight points, followed by three straight points score by Sundara. Sundara added to her great set with three more points as the Marauders pulled away with a 25-20 set three win.
 
Set four started with a great set from Payton Entwistle (Jerseyville, Ont.) to McKinnon for a score. Sundara added another kill on another strong set up from Entwistle. Delamere's point earned McMaster the 15-14 lead. Western took back the lead and were in a strong position up by two. After the Mustangs added two more points, Entwistle responded with a successful attack. The Mustangs would take the set, 25-21.
 
The deciding set five began with a takeover from the Mustangs who had a 7-1 lead. The Marauders stayed in the fight as kills from Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.), McKinnon and Sundara pulled the Marauders within two. The Mustangs held a 10-7 lead when McKinnon and Sundara once again made their marks in the game with kills and Lutes nails a service ace, tying the game at 10. The teams each scored 4 points, remaining tied at 14. Western would win the next two points and the set, 16-14.
 
The Marauders would come up short in a very tight match up against the Mustangs on Friday.
 
 Match 2 vs Western (Nov 16, 2024)
 
On Saturday, McMaster came out with a chip on their shoulder early as points from Emma McKinnon (Milton, Ont.), Ava Connelly (Ancaster, Ont.), and Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) shot the Marauders into an 11-2 lead. A service ace by Chayse Victoria (Oakville, Ont.) and another Lutes kill put the Marauders in a comfortable 10-point lead. The Marauders would cruise to a 25-14 set one win with McKinnon ended the set with another successful attack.

A kill by Connelly put McMaster up by one early in set two. Kills by Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) and Lutes kept McMaster in the hunt mid-way through the set. Delamere with two more successful attacks, which placed the Marauders up by one. The lead was short lived as the Mustangs took an 19-15 advantage. Lutes and McKinnon made a huge impact as they each scored, bringing the set to a tie at 19. Lutes added two more scores but Western came away with the 25-22 set two win.

The Marauders had a tough third set. They fell behind 7-2 early. The Mustangs continued to apply pressure as they were now up by eight. Angelika Vidmar (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Lucie Shaver (Surrey, B.C.) both scored on successful kills putting the Marauders within four. The Mustangs outscored McMaster 12-3, winning set three, 25-12.

The Marauders got off to a 4-0 lead in set four. The Mustangs went on a 5-1 run, and it was all tied up. McKinnon slammed the ball for a score. The Mustangs began to pull away as they took a 16-11 lead. Kills by McKinnon, Julien and Lutes kept the Marauders close, but it would not be enough as they fell 25-17 in set four.

Up next, McMaster will visit St. Catharines and take on the Brock Badgers (4-2). Game one is on Friday at 6 PM.