Hamilton, Ont. - McMaster teams wrapped up a busy week of competition in multiple sports. Both men's and women's basketball went on the road this weekend, and both volleyball teams hosted Brock in the final home game of the 2025. Wrestling delivered standout performances at the U of T Open with podium finishes across divisions. At the NCWP Championships, both water polo teams finished 4th. 

Men's Basketball
November 29 - L: 68-93 vs Queen's | Box Score
November 30- L: 59-76 vs OTECH | Box Score

Women's Basketball
November 29 - L: 70-89 vs Queen's | Box Score
November 30- W: 82-66 vs OTECH | Box Score 

Men's Volleyball
November 28 - W: 3-2 (25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 15-12) vs Brock | Box Score
November 29 - L: 0-3 (22-25, 23-25, 16-25) vs Brock | Box Score

Women's Volleyball
November 28 - L: 0-3 (28-30, 12-25, 17-25) vs Brock | Box Score
November 29 - L: 1-3 (25-19, 15-25, 22-25, 22-25) vs Brock | Box Score

Wrestling
November 29 - U of T Open, Toronto, Ont. | Results

Water Polo
November 28-30 - NCWP Championships, Kingston, Ont.

November 28 - W: 14-10 vs Queen's (Men's)
November 28 - W: 10-6 vs Ottawa (Women's)
November 29 - L: 6-22 vs Toronto (Men's)
November 29 - L: 3-18 vs Toronto (Women's)
November 30 - Bronze medal game L: 6-8, SO vs Carleton (Men's)
November 30 - Bronze medal game L: 10-14 vs Queen's (Women's)


Men's Basketball
November 29 - L: 68-93 vs Queen's | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders couldn't recover from a difficult opening quarter on Saturday night at the ARC, falling 68-93 to the Queen's Gaels despite a strong push in the second half.

Queen's came out firing from the perimeter, forcing McMaster to play from behind early. The Marauders generated good interior looks and second-chance opportunities through active offensive rebounding, but the Gaels' early shot-making opened a gap that shaped the rest of the night. McMaster continued to work the ball inside and attack the paint, using their physicality to get to the rim, but the hosts carried momentum into the second frame.

McMaster settled in defensively as the game progressed, tightening closeouts and generating turnovers that allowed them to push the ball in transition. The Marauders began to establish a rhythm offensively midway through the second quarter, with Jeremiah Francis, Jacyn Taylor, and Tyler Garcia, McMaster's top scorers on the night, helping fuel stretches of sustained ball movement and tempo.

The Marauders' best basketball came in the third quarter, where increased pace and more assertive drives created one of their strongest stretches of the season. Francis knocked down timely threes to spark the run, Taylor battled inside to get to the line and finish through contact, and Garcia orchestrated the offence with pace, creating downhill opportunities that helped McMaster produce an 18-point frame.

In the fourth, McMaster continued to compete defensively with strong rim protection and active hands, forcing turnovers. Despite the early deficit proving too large to erase, the Marauders showed resilience and encouraging stretches that they will look to build on moving forward.

November 30- L:  59-76 vs OTECH | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders battled through long stretches of competitive basketball on Saturday evening but couldn't overcome a strong finish from Ontario Tech, falling 59-76 on the road.

The Marauders opened the game with a confident pace, moving the ball effectively and generating early looks inside. Their defensive intensity set the tone in the opening minutes, forcing rushed shots and creating transition opportunities. Tyler Garcia, Jeremiah Francis, and Ares Culley-Bremner, McMaster's top scorers on the night, helped steady the offense through early runs, with Garcia facilitating in the open floor, Francis spacing the floor with timely perimeter touches, and Culley-Bremner establishing presence around the rim.

Ontario Tech responded with a push late in the first half, and despite McMaster's strong rebounding stretches and active defense, the Ridgebacks carried momentum into halftime. The Marauders continued to rely on composed half-court sets, working through ball screens and attacking downhill to stay within reach.

McMaster's best stretch came in the third quarter, where increased tempo and stronger defensive rotations allowed the group to chip away at the deficit. Francis sparked the offense with assertive drives, while Garcia controlled the pace and distributed with purpose. Culley-Bremner continued to impact both ends, anchoring the paint and keeping McMaster within striking distance.

In the fourth, the Marauders generated stops but struggled to convert enough possessions to complete the comeback. Ontario Tech capitalized late, pulling ahead as McMaster's final push fell short.

Women's Basketball
November 29 - L: 70-89 vs Queen's | Box Score

McMaster women's basketball put up a strong early fight on the road at Queen's ARC Gym, but an explosive second quarter from the undefeated Gaels proved too much to overcome in an 89–70 loss on Saturday afternoon.

The Marauders matched Queen's 18–18 in the opening frame and briefly held a five-point lead early in the second, but the Gaels responded with a 31-point quarter to take control of the game. McMaster continued to battle through the third, shooting an efficient 47% from the field, but Queen's maintained its momentum and closed out the fourth with a steady push to seal the win.

Sophia Urosevic (Kitchener, Ont.) led McMaster with a standout performance, dropping a game-high 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting, including three triples. Emily Frankovic (Thornhill, Ont.) added 17 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while both Tayler Scott (Burlington, Ont.) and Grace Ammendolia (Hamilton, Ont.) chipped in nine points apiece. 

November 30- W:  82-66 vs OTECH | Box Score 

McMaster closed out the weekend on a high note, delivering a dominant 82–66 win over Ontario Tech on Sunday. The Marauders set the tone early with a 23-point first quarter and never trailed, building a double-digit lead that grew as large as 29 in the third frame.

Tayler Scott powered the offense with a season-best 23 points, adding eight rebounds while shooting an efficient 8-for-15 from the field and 7-for-9 at the line. Emily Frankovic continued her strong form with 15 points and seven boards, while Sophia Urosevic added 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Grace Ammendolia (11 points, seven rebounds) and Jordan Denkers (Hamilton, Ont.) (10 points, eight assists, six rebounds) rounded out a balanced starting lineup, helping McMaster control the paint with 44 points inside and 19 points off turnovers.

The Marauders shot 45.7% from the field and 75% from the free-throw line, using a strong defensive presence and steady rebounding to stay firmly in command.

Men's Volleyball
November 28 - W: 3-2 (25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 15-12) vs Brock | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders battled the Brock Badgers at Burridge Gym on Friday night and fought their way to a hard-earned 3–2 victory.
McMaster opened the first set with strong kills from Ashton Fox-Kristensen (Elora, Ont.) 5 and Mekhi Fitzgerald (Milton, Ont.), plus a huge dig from Matthew Rugosi (Toronto, Ont.) that kept an early rally alive. Smart ball movement and steady attacking pushed the Marauders ahead, with Fitzgerald hammering down a kill that brought Burridge to life. Brock pressured late, but McMaster held firm and closed the set 25–23 to take a 1–0 lead.

The second set featured more back-and-forth intensity. Seth O'Brien (Kingston, Ont.) struck early, and blocks from Fitzgerald and Michael Rendulic (Stoney Creek, Ont.) helped break a tie as McMaster kept control. Fitzgerald continued to dominate at the net, fueled by another dig from Rugosi that extended a key rally. A massive kill from Matthias Cooper (Hamilton, Ont.) and a late block by Ronan Huth (Edmonton, Alta.) lifted the Marauders to a 25–21 win and a 2–0 match lead.

Brock pushed back in the third set, but McMaster kept swinging. Cooper opened the set with multiple kills, and Fitzgerald and Huth added big swings to keep the Marauders within reach. A late kill from Fox-Kristensen kept the push alive, but Brock held on 25–21, cutting the match to 2–1.

The fourth set saw the Badgers maintain early control, yet McMaster kept fighting. O'Brien and Cooper broke up Brock's run, and Fitzgerald delivered a clean corner kill to tighten the gap. Late blocks from Huth and attacks from the Marauders didm't stop as they kept battling on, but Brock closed the set 25–20, forcing a deciding fifth set..
With the Burridge crowd at the edge of their seats, McMaster dominated early in the final set. A wall of blocks led by Fox-Kristensen and a series of explosive kills from Cooper and Kaden Zunti (Burlington, Ont.) pushed the Marauders ahead. Jason Heidbuurt (Hamilton, Ont.) added a massive kill to keep the energy high, and O'Brien delivered a powerful kill to bring McMaster within sight of the finish line. The Marauders closed out the set 15–12, securing a 3–2 victory in a hard-fought match.

November 29 - L: 0-3 (22-25, 23-25, 16-25) vs Brock | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (4-6) dropped a 3-0 decision to the Brock Badgers (4-6) on Saturday evening at Burridge Gymnasium. 

The opening set moved at a steady pace with tight scoring throughout, as Seth O'Brien (Kingston, Ont.) delivered an early ace to give McMaster a slight edge before adding a kill during extended rallies. Matthias Cooper (Hamilton, Ont.) later levelled the set at 20-20 to set up a tense finish, but a late Brock push secured a 25-22 win. The Marauders struck first in the second set with early kills from Ashton Fox-Kristensen (Elora, Ont.) and Michael Rendulic (Stoney Creek, Ont.), while Ronan Huth (Edmonton, Alta.) and O'Brien added late aces to fuel a surge that tied the frame at 23-23. Despite the pressure, Brock closed out another tight set 25-23. Momentum carried into the third as McMaster tried to fend off the sweep, with Cooper, O'Brien, and Mekhi Fitzgerald (Milton, Ont.) each scoring aces, but the rally fell short as the Badgers sealed the set 25-16 to complete the 3-0 win.

Women's Volleyball
November 28 - L: 0-3 (28-30, 12-25, 17-25) vs Brock | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders hosted the Brock Badgers at Burridge Gymnasium on Friday night, battling through long rallies and swift attacks but ultimately falling 3–0.
McMaster opened the first set with strong defensive work, as Jennifer Wu (Burlington, Ont.) kept the rally alive with an impressive dig before Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) finished the point to tie things early. Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) sparked the offence with back-to-back attacks, and a dig from Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) set up another kill for Julien to keep McMaster close. A powerful attack from Lutes pushed the Marauders into the lead, and Eva Lin (Markham, Ont.) followed with multiple standout attacks. The set turned into a thrilling rally, with McMaster tying it at 24–24 and again at 25–25 after a block from Delamere and Julien. The Marauders continued to grind through long rallies, including a diving save that kept a key point alive, but Brock edged out the set 30–28 to take a 1–0 lead.
In set two, Lin opened with a strong attack, and Lutes added a point-winning serve to keep things level. Lutes also capped off an early rally to tie the set early, but Brock responded with a run to take a five-point lead. McMaster fought to stay close, highlighted by kills from Sydney Zakutney (Ottawa, Ont.) and Julien, and a smart tip from Omosefe Osaghae (Barrie, Ont.), but the Badgers pulled away late to take the set 25–12 and go up 2–0.
McMaster came out swinging in the third set, jumping ahead 2–0 and staying aggressive. Julien delivered multiple key kills to keep the pressure on, while Zakutney and Angelika Vidmar (Etobicoke, Ont.) contributed strong attacks that kept Burridge energized. Ava Connelly (Ancaster, Ont.) added another kill as the Marauders battled to close the gap, and Lauren Pastor (Toronto, Ont.) tipped over a smart point to keep the set alive at 16–23. Despite the late push, Brock held on to win the set 25–17, sealing the match 3–0.

November 29 - L: 1-3 (25-19, 15-25, 22-25, 22-25) vs Brock | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (7-3) were back in Burridge Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon in a tightly contested matchup against the Brock Badgers (9-1), falling short 3-1. 

The first set opened with fast-paced, back-and-forth scoring, with Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) putting the Marauders on the board early before Eva Lin (Markham, Ont.) added back-to-back kills. McMaster stayed sharp from the service line as Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) and Kailee Young (Toronto, Ont.) each delivered a pair of aces, while Sydney Zakutney (Ottawa, Ont.) added another late in the frame to close out a 25-19 win. The Marauders were unable to maintain pace in the second set as Brock found its rhythm and controlled play throughout, taking the set 25-15 to even the match 1-1.The Badgers opened strong in the third before McMaster rallied late. Trailing by five, Charlie Dean (Calgary, AB.) and Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) each scored an ace to cut the deficit to 22-19, but Brock held off the surge to claim the set 25-22. Pressure mounted in the fourth set as the Badgers extended their lead, though Zakutney, Julien and Claire Fan (Oakville, Ont.) each connected for aces to keep McMaster within reach. Despite their late push, Brock closed out another 25-22 set to take the match 3-1. 
 

Wrestling
November 29 - U of T Open, Toronto, Ont. | Results

For the last meet of the year, the Marauders traveled to Toronto to compete at the U of T Open on Saturday. McMaster wrestling delivered strong results with Blayne Helou (Pickering, Ont.)  winning the men's 61kg division, Armaan Jawandha (Surrey, B.C.) finishing second at 82kg, and Tehani Blais (Winnipeg, Man.) capturing first place in the women's 68kg category.
 

Upcoming Events (1st week back, Jan 5-11 2026)
                                                                               
Jan 9
6:00 PM: Women's Basketball vs Lakehead | Tickets
6:00 PM: Women's Volleyball @ Waterloo
7:30 PM: Men's Volleyball @ Waterloo
8:00 PM: Men's Basketball vs Lakehead | Tickets
Track: Windsor Can Am, Windsor, Ont.

Jan 10
1:00 PM: Women's Volleyball @ Waterloo
2:30 PM: Men's Volleyball @ Waterloo
6:00 PM: Women's Basketball vs Lakehead | Tickets
8:00 PM: Men's Basketball vs Lakehead | Tickets
Wrestling: Brock Open, St. Catharines, Ont.

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