It’s playoff season and the McMaster Marauders women’s volleyball team enters the OUA playoffs with a quarter-final matchup against the Western Mustangs this Saturday at Burridge Gym.
As the second seed in the OUA West Division, the Marauders earned hosting rights for the quarter-final stage with the match set for 6pm against the third seeded Mustangs.
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The Marauders opened up the season in the fall with a 3-2 record heading into the winter break, sweeping the Lakehead Thunderwolves, but falling in back-to-back matches to the division leading Brock Badgers, wrapping up the fall portion of the schedule with a thrilling five-set victory over the Waterloo Warriors.
Kicking-off the restart of the season in February, the Marauders made quick work of the then national ranked Mustangs 3-0 at home, and 3-1 at the road, going 5-2 in the second-half of the season to finish second in the division with an 8-4 record.
Meanwhile the Mustangs started their season on fire with a 5-0 record in the fall, not dropping a single set in the process with a sweep of Waterloo and Lakehead. Coming into the restart of the season, the story flipped, losing four straight – two against the Marauders, followed by a pair of losses to the Badgers. Finding their footing to close out the season, the team notched a sweep of the Windsor Lancers, but ultimately fell in the season finale 3-1 on the road at Guelph.
As a team, the Marauders led the OUA in multiple defensive categories, ranking first in total blocks and blocks per set with 2.31 per set, and total digs with 771, averaging 16.06 digs per set – second in the OUA. On the offensive end, the Marauders have ranked third in total kills with 564, leading to a conference second-best 523 total assists.
Much of this can be attributed to two-time OUA first-team all-star and fifth-year right side, Jessie Nairn, who ranks fifth in the OUA points per set with 3.8 and sixth in kills per set with 3.15. The commerce major, and team captain, has been a vocal leader for the Marauders in her final season for a squad that features a youthful side.
A trio of first-year’s make up the starting rotation in Sullie Sundara, Emma McKinnon, and Hayley Brookes. Outside hitters Sundara and McKinnon have been close behind Nairn in terms of offensive output, ranking ninth and tenth in kills per set, with 3.00 and 2.98 respectively.
Meanwhile, Brookes has been a consistent defensive presence, ranking fourth in digs per set during the regular season with 3.73. Not to be outdone on the defensive front, Ellie Hatashita has been a block party all on her own connecting on 1.02 blocks per set for the Marauders – a third best mark in the OUA.
Also effective on the blocking end are the Mustangs who average 2.26 blocks per set, the third best mark in the OUA. Matching their defensive output with a high-powered offense, the Mustangs ranked third as a team during the regular season in kills per set, hitting home 12.62 per set. Much of the offensive credit is in due part to fourth-year outside hitter Janelle Albert, who has set the league on notice with her impressive 4.28 kills per set – the best mark in the OUA.
Defensively the team has relied heavily on first-year middle Claire Stewart who ranked second in the OUA during the regular season in blocks per set with 1.06. Another first-year to keep an eye on will be setter, Lauren Pastor, who is not only adept at setting up the Mustangs offense with 10.23 assists per set, but also holds an effective service, recording 0.58 service aces per set.
With their third meeting set to take place this weekend, a trip to the OUA semi-final for the OUA West Divisional title.
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