Marauders Win in Four Sets Against Warriors at Home

The fourth ranked Marauders defeated the Waterloo Warriors at home in a four-set game on Saturday night.  

Outside hitter Sam Cooper (Hamilton, Ont.) had an impressive game, making a staggering 13 kills, a service ace and eight digs. Alongside their teammate on offense were Mateusz Wlodarski (Ottawa, Ont.) and Tyler Pavelic (Guelph, Ont.), making six kills each. Setter Robbie Fujisawa (North York, Ont.) was reliable in supporting them, making 35 assists and nine digs.  

The Marauders started the game by displaying their immense power in their kills against the Warriors. Cooper and Wojciech Kraj (Gliwice, Poland) showed their height at the net with some big blocks, but Waterloo was determined to keep the set close. Cooper had four big kills on their home court, while Matthew Rugosi (Etobicoke, Ont.) made four digs. The gym was tense as the Warriors closed the gap, but the Marauders held strong to maintain their lead throughout the set and win 25-20.  

In the second set, the Warriors came out with newfound motivation, while the Marauders struggled to match their energy. Waterloo found their first substantial lead of the game, forcing McMaster to a timeout to try to rally the team. Cooper made some impactful contributions with three kills to help the Marauders gain momentum and tie the game back up at the 23rd point. Despite their best efforts, the Marauders fell in the second set 25-23. 

The third set started with points back and forth from both teams, before McMaster started to distance themselves with a lead. A powerful service ace from Cooper mid set made the home crowd erupt. Waterloo started to gain some momentum with three service aces, but the Marauders stayed composed, holding onto their lead. Cooper was consistent, leading the team with three kills and two digs. McMaster held their lead and didn’t give it up, winning the set 25-16.  

The Marauders came into the fourth set strong, showcasing their height with their blocks and kills. Knowing that McMaster could win the game with this set, both teams were tense as they felt the pressure. Maxime Gratton (Ottawa, Ont.) led the team in kills with four, and Fujisawa contributed with 10 assists. The Marauders brought the power in the second half of the fourth set, looking comfortable in with their lead. 
 

Up Next 

The Marauders will now travel to play the TMU Bold in Toronto on Nov. 18th. The team improves their win streak to four and will hope to extend it next week.