HAMILTON, Ont. — On Friday, the McMaster Marauders (14-6) started their quest for the cup, facing the Waterloo Warriors (14-6) at home. McMaster finished just ahead of Waterloo in the regular season giving the Marauders the opportunity to host the quarterfinal game. The Marauders had just finished the regular season with a doubleheader against the Warriors where they came away 1-1.
The Marauder offense got off to a quick start in this quarterfinal match up. On the second point of the match, Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) got a service ace and then followed up with another service ace shortly after. Waterloo strung together a few points early in the set, but Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.) would end the early run with a tip to keep the Marauders ahead. Sundara continued the offensive pressure with a service ace to extend the Marauder lead to four. The Warriors did not have an answer to the Marauder pressure, and Madeleine Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) would help close out the first set with a service ace. McMaster would take set one, 25-12.
Waterloo ramped up the pressure early in set two and expanded on their lead early. McMaster's defense would step up with a kick save from Hayley Brookes (Burlington, Ont.) and Julien would follow up with a service ace to cut into the Warrior lead and force a time out mid way through. But coming out of the timeout, Lutes would set a huge block to abruptly slow the Warrior push. However, Waterloo would hold onto the lead, despite the Marauders pulling back with two, and take the second set 25-22.
McMaster had two big blocks to start off set three. The Marauders would add to their lead in the third set with a pair of service aces from Ava Connelly (Ancaster, Ont.) and Emma McKinnon (Milton, Ont.). Sundara got swinging for the Marauders later in the set to keep McMaster in front. Later on, Julien would set a single block and come up victorious for the Marauders. Sundara had back to back aces near the end of the set and a reverse set over the net from Chayse Victoria (Oakville, Ont.) closed out set three with the Marauders on top 25-14.
The score stayed tight early in set four but the Marauders would start to pull ahead as the set went on. The Warriors came back to tie it at 13. Then, the Marauder defense came alive with a diving save from Lutes, along with a big single block from Angelika Vidmar (Etobicoke, Ont.) to keep the score close. The Marauders would tie the game at 21 but Waterloo would sneak past McMaster to win set four 25-22. This quarter-final would head to a fifth set. Waterloo would pull ahead early in the final set but McMaster would come back to tie the game at 12. The Warriors fought right back though but the Marauders found a second gear, and a huge hit from Julien would propel them passed Waterloo, to win the final set, 15-13.
Next Up:
The Marauders will face Toronto at home in the semi finals on February 28th.
