WINNIPEG, Man. — To start off their U SPORTS run, McMaster faced the Montreal Carabins in a close, five set quarter final match. McMaster would take the lead early in the first set, thanks in part to incredible hitting from Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.). Sundara would continue to dominate early in the first set and hit a service ace to put McMaster up by two. Montreal would then string together a series of points, which would force a Marauder timeout. Despite a late push from the Marauders, the Carabins would take the opening set, 25-19.

Sundara again came out swinging in the second set, and Emma McKinnon (Milton, Ont.) hit a service ace to extend the Marauder's early lead. Later in the second, Sundara would hit back to back service aces, along with Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) adding one of her own, to help lead McMaster to a comfortable, 25-13 win in set two.

McMaster kept the pressure on in the third set with Chayse Victoria (Oakville, Ont.) hitting numerous service aces, which would help McMaster grab the third set, 25-17.

McMaster fell behind early in the fourth set but would battle back, with help from the bench. The Marauders were looking to close out the match in the fourth but the Carabins would edge them out to take it, 25-21 and force a fifth set.

The fifth set would prove a tight match, but the Carabins would utilize their strong serving ability to pull past the Marauders and take the final set, 17-15. Montreal would go on to claim the silver medal. 

But the Marauders were not finished with their U SPORTS journey yet. They would sweep Memorial in the consolation semi final with Sundara lighting up the court to score 17 points, and hitting 5 service aces, to help the Marauders book a spot in the consolation final against Saint Mary's.

The Marauders defeated Saint Mary's last year in the consolation final to finish fifth and capture their best finish in program history. This year, McMaster would again take the fifth spot at the U SPORTS Championship, after a 3-2 win over the Huskies.

McMaster found themselves playing catch up early in the first set, but would rally back with help again from Sundara's service game. McMaster ended up tying the game at 19 a piece, before the Huskies grabbed the last few points to take the first set, 25-21.

Hitting from both McKinnon and Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) would add energy to the Marauder offense in the second set, with Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) hitting a service ace to tie the game at 15. This set was a tougher test for the Marauders, but they were able to edge Saint Mary's out, winning the set, 25-23.

The score stayed close early in the third set, but the Huskies pulled away later in the set to take it 25-14. McMaster held onto the lead for the entire fourth set, with more stellar hitting and service aces from Julien and Lutes to win the fourth set, 25-18 and force a fifth set. The Marauders would take the fifth set handily, easing to a 15-6 victory. With the win over the Huskies, the Marauders closed out an incredible 2024-25 season.

In her final match as a Marauder, McKinnon would take home player of the game. At the U SPORTS awards ceremony, McMaster took home the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award. The award recognizes the team or player that best exhibits the standards of fair play throughout the tournament. McMaster was not only able to demonstrate their outstanding talent on the national stage but also display incredible sportsmanship, for which they were recognized. 

Sullie Sundara, left, Abby Delamere, centre, and head coach Nathan Janzen, right, accept the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award

GOLD: Manitoba Bisons

SILVER: Montreal Carabins

BRONZE: Alberta Pandas