St. Catharines, Ont. — The postseason reaches its peak Friday night as the No. 3 seed McMaster Marauders travel to St. Catharines to face the No. 1 seed Brock Badgers in the 2026 OUA Quigley Cup Final at the Bob Davis Gymnasium. First serve is set for 6 p.m., with the winner claiming the conference banner.
With only one OUA berth available to the U SPORTS Championship, Friday's match carries national implications. The champion will advance to Langley, B.C., to compete at Trinity Western University next week. The losing team's season ends here.
This marks the third straight OUA Final meeting between the programs. The rivalry stands 1-1 over the past two seasons, adding even more weight to this decisive chapter.
Brock finished the regular season 17-3 in OUA play, while McMaster closed at 15-5 in conference action. Despite entering as the No. 3 seed, the Marauders once again find themselves playing for the Quigley Cup.
2024 Championship: Brock 3, McMaster 1
Two seasons ago, Brock defended home court with a four-set victory (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16).
The Badgers produced 53 kills and hit .234 as a team. Sadie Dick led with 15 kills, Gigi Markotic added nine on .333 efficiency, and Madison Chimienti contributed 10. Emily Foest recorded eight kills.
For McMaster,
Sullie Sundara delivered 18 kills on .344 hitting, while
Olivia Julien added eight.
Following that 2024 season, several key contributors departed.
McMaster key departures after 2024:
- Jenna Woock
- Lauryn Colpitts
- Ellie Hatashita
Brock key departures after 2024:
2025 Championship: McMaster 3, Brock 0
Last season, the Marauders answered emphatically, sweeping Brock (25-22, 25-19, 25-18) to even the championship rivalry at 1-1.
McMaster hit .283 as a team. Sundara led with 15 kills,
Olivia Julien added 11, and
Abby Delamere,
Angelika Vidmar, and
Chayse Victoria played pivotal roles.
Brock was limited to a .164 team hitting percentage.
Following the 2025 season, McMaster saw two additional contributors graduate:
McMaster's key departure after 2025:
Brock key departures after 2025:
- Sadie Dick
- Gigi Markotic
- Madison Chimienti
Season Series: Brock 2-0
While the championship history is split 1-1, this years regular-season meetings favored Brock.
On November 28, Brock earned a straight-sets victory (30-28, 25-12, 25-17). The Badgers hit .259 with 41 kills, while McMaster was limited to .138 hitting.
The following afternoon, Brock secured a 3-1 win (19-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-22). Brock totaled 44 kills, led by Madison Tuck's 14 kills on .407 efficiency. McMaster recorded 35 kills, but hit .090 as a team.
Brock: No. 1 Seed (17-3 OUA)
The Badgers finished the regular season 17-3 in OUA play, earning the top seed in the conference bracket. Brock posted an 11-1 home record this season (9-1 regular season, 2-0 playoffs) and has been particularly strong inside the Bob Davis Gymnasium, where Friday's final will be played.
In the OUA quarterfinal, Brock swept Ottawa in straight sets before advancing past Queen's in the semifinal with a 3-1 victory (25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22). The Badgers hit .257 in the semifinal, led by Madison Tuck (11 kills, .308) and Daryan Chadwick (10 kills, .444).
When Brock is in system, their offense distributes efficiently across the pins and through the middle. Their ability to respond after dropping a set to Queen's demonstrated composure, a trait that has defined their season.
McMaster: No. 3 Seed (15-5 OUA)
McMaster enters the final as the No. 3 seed after finishing 15-5 in conference play. The Marauders went 8-3 on the road this season (7-3 regular season, 1-0 playoffs) and have already proven capable of winning in hostile environments.
In the OUA quarterfinal, McMaster swept Windsor 3-0 to advance, controlling the match from start to finish. The Marauders then delivered a composed 3-1 road victory over Western in the semifinal (19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-21).
McMaster hit .308 as a team in that semifinal win, powered by
Olivia Julien's 16 kills on .429 hitting.
Abby Delamere (.833) and
Angelika Vidmar (.667) provided highly efficient middle production.
Throughout the second half of the season, the Marauders have leaned on balance, defensive discipline, and improved serve pressure. Multiple attackers are capable of leading the offense, and their championship experience over the past two seasons adds confidence entering another final.
Key Factors
- Serve and First Contact
- Brock's serving pressure disrupted McMaster's offense in the November meetings. Clean passing will be essential for the Marauders.
- Middle Efficiency
- Chadwick's .444 semifinal performance and Delamere's .833 outing highlight the importance of middle production.
- Winner Advances, Loser Goes Home
- With only one OUA berth available to nationals, there is no margin for error. The winner heads west to Langley. The loser's season ends Friday night.
With a 1-1 championship split, a 2-0 season series in Brock's favor, and both teams entering in strong form, Friday's Quigley Cup Final promises intensity from the opening serve.
