2022-23 Marauder Men’s Volleyball Season Preview

HAMILTON, Ont. – After last competing at the U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship in Winnipeg, Man. in March, the Marauders are now ready to defend their OUA title and return to the national stage. The OUA men’s volleyball season officially starts on Friday and the maroon and grey will open their title defence on home court at Burridge Gymnasium. After playing in pre-season contests against the likes of Ohio State, Queen’s and Sherbrooke, the Marauders will face the Trent Excalibur in the OUA season opener on Friday and Saturday night. Game time is set for 8pm both days.
 

Trent vs McMaster
Burridge Gymnasium | Hamilton, Ont.
November 4th, 2022 @ 8pm & November 5th, 2022 @ 8pm
 

McMaster Marauders (12-0) (2021-22 Regular Season Stats)
1st in OUA West Division Standings

Trent Excalibur (0-10) (2021-22 Regular Season Stats)
7th in OUA East Division Standings

2021-22 Regular Season Stats

Weekend Game Coverage

Watch Live: https://oua.yaretv.com/

Twitter: @McMasterSports

Instagram: @mcmastermvb & @mcmastersports
 

Season Preview

The first two games of the OUA regular season will get underway this weekend with each team playing a 20 game schedule. There are thirteen men’s volleyball teams that compete in the OUA in a single division with each team having two non-combatants each season.

McMaster graduated fifth-year libero, Jordan Pereira (Hamilton, Ont.), who led the Marauders with 78 digs last season also ranked fourth in the conference. He also averaged 1.90 digs per set, fifth best in the OUA.

However, the Marauders have a number of key contributors returning this season. A member of the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team and the OUA West Division Rookie of the Year, Maxime Gratton (Ottawa, Ont.) had an impressive first season for the maroon and grey. The social psychology student ranked fifth in the conference in hitting percentage with a .326 for a total of 95 kills throughout the season. Teammate and outside hitter, Sam Cooper (Hamilton, Ont.), led the Marauders with 131 kills and 292 total attacks, ranking him sixth and fifth in the OUA, respectively. He was both a 2021-22 OUA First Team All-Star and a U SPORTS All-Canadian. 

Mateusz Wlodarski (Ottawa, Ont.) and Wojciech Kraj (Gliwice, POLAND), two of McMaster’s forces at the net, both return to the team after OUA Second Team All-Star campaigns in 2021-22. A biochemistry student, Wlodarski recorded 108 kills and 194 total attacks while Kraj, an actuarial and financial math student, led the team in blocks with 33, averaging 1.48 blocks per set.

The Marauders 2022-23 recruit class – Jack Mackley (North York, Ont.), Luc Cluley (Keswick, Ont.), Cole Francis (Ottawa, Ont.) and Aidan Palanca (Vancouver, B.C.) – will look to work their way into the rotation this season and make an impact for the maroon and grey.

All of McMaster’s regular season home games will be broadcast live on OUA.tv free of charge. Tickets for the Marauders’ home games are available for purchase at www.marauders.ca/tickets.
 

2022-23 McMaster Marauders Men’s Volleyball Schedule

• Friday November 4^th vs Trent Excalibur – 8PM
• Saturday November 5^th vs Trent Excalibur – 8PM
• Friday November 11^th at Western Mustangs – 8PM
• Saturday November 12^th vs Waterloo Warriors – 8PM
• Friday November 18^th at TMU Bold – 8PM
• Sunday November 20^th at Brock Badgers – 3PM
• Friday November 25^th vs Nipissing Lakers – 8PM
• Saturday November 26^th vs Nipissing Lakers – 6PM
• Friday December 2^nd vs Queen’s Gaels – 8PM
• Saturday December 3^rd vs Queen’s Gaels – 8PM
• Friday January 13^th at Brock Badgers – 8PM
• Sunday January 15^th at Toronto Varsity Blues – 3PM
• Wednesday January 18^th vs Waterloo Warriors – 8PM
• Saturday January 21^st at York Lions – 6PM
• Friday February 3^rd vs RMC Paladins – 8PM
• Saturday February 4^th vs RMC Paladins – 8PM
• Friday February 10^th at Western Mustangs – 8PM
• Saturday February 11^th at York Lions – 8PM
• Friday February 17^th at TMU Bold – 8PM
• Sunday February 19^th at Toronto Varsity Blues – 3PM

For the latest news and updates on the McMaster Marauders, follow @mcmastersports on social media or visit www.marauders.ca.