HAMILTON, Ont. — On Friday evening, the McMaster Marauders (11-5) were back in Burridge Gymnasium to face the Ottawa Gee-Gees (5-9).
The Marauders got off to a strong start, thanks to key kills from
Angelika Vidmar (Etobicoke, Ont.) and
Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.), taking the lead in the first set. Service aces from
Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) and
Emma McKinnon (Milton, Ont.) helped extend McMaster's lead, and the Marauders took the first set 25-22.
The Gee-Gees responded in the second set, putting pressure on McMaster. It was a back-and-forth battle, with the Marauders trying to close the gap. Strong kills kept the score close, but it wasn't enough to take the win. Ottawa claimed the second set 25-19.
Ottawa came out strong in the third set, keeping the Marauders on their toes. A service ace from
Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) cut the Gee-Gees' lead to one, setting the stage for an exciting finish. The set remained close throughout, with the score tied at 22-22. However, Ottawa pulled ahead to take the set 25-22.
The Marauders started the fourth set strong with early points from
Lucie Shaver (Surrey, B.C.), and Julien added multiple kills to keep McMaster in the hunt. Despite the close score, Ottawa prevailed, winning the set 25-22 and taking the match 3-1.
On Saturday, the Marauders faced the Gee-Gees again and earned a clean sweep. The first set featured strong kills that gave McMaster a competitive edge, allowing them to take the lead over Ottawa. Julien capped off the set with a kill to give the Marauders a 25-19 win.
Ottawa came out strong in the second set, forcing the Marauders to work for the win. McKinnon and Vidmar each made service aces early in the set, and
Chayse Victoria (Oakville, Ont.) followed with back-to-back service aces. The Marauders pulled through again, winning the set 25-23.
The third set saw close scoring, but
Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.), Lutes, and Julien all contributed service aces that extended McMaster's lead. The Marauders took the set 25-18, completing the sweep.
Up Next
: The Marauders will face the Queen's Gaels at home on February 7 and 8.