Marauders Headed to the U SPORTS Consolation Final After Sweeping Badgers

HAMILTON, Ont. – The Marauders swept the Badgers and will advance to the U SPORTS Consolation Final to seek their highest national championship finish in program history. The home gym was electric on Saturday afternoon as McMaster ended the Badgers’ season. Brock defeated the Marauders last weekend at the OUA Championships, but McMaster showed grit and determination to find the redemption win today.  

Leading McMaster’s offense was outside hitter Sullie Sundara with 13 kills and eight staggering service aces, totaling to 21.5 points. Alongside her was first year and OUA Rookie of the Year Olivia Julien with 12 kills and 10 digs. Setter Chayse Victoria made 25 assists and seven digs, earning herself McMaster’s Player of the Game honours.  

Outside hitter Sundara found the first two kills of the game for McMaster, but the OUA teams kept the score close. Ellie Hatashita came through with a big solo block, showcasing her height at the net. Brock began to find a small lead, forcing a McMaster timeout while they trailed 9-5. The Badgers held strong on defense, doing a good job of covering the middle of their court. Two back-to-back aces from Sundara brought the score to 15-14 and found the Marauders a small lead. The teams continued to tie until 18-18, when McMaster found a slight lead. Victoria was subbed in midway through the set, and made seven assists, helping McMaster find the 27-25 win in extra points.  

6’2″ middle Hatashita opened set two by making a huge solo block at the net, followed up by an ace from Victoria to put the Marauders up by two. Sundara continued to be a force to reckon with on the service line, making another set of back-to-back aces and pushing Brock to a timeout. Not long after, Sundara came flying from the back of McMaster’s court, making a huge kill. McMaster held a small lead for the first half of the set, then tore away after a seven-point run. The Marauders earned the last five points of the set, including two more aces from Sundara, and dominantly won 25-11.  

Going into the third set up two sets to none, the Marauders needed to maintain composure. The teams started out close, tying on the scoreboard up to the fifth point. The Marauders began to distance themselves with a six-point run. First year Julien was having a spectacular game, making six kills in the set. Alongside her, Hatashita stood tall at the net, finding her fourth solo block of the game. The Marauders began to close in on set point, exciting the home crowd. Sundara made her eighth ace of the game to make the score 23-13 for McMaster. Outside hitter Julien came through to find the last kill of the game as the Marauders won the third set 25-13.  

Up Next 

The Marauders now get the chance to play for fifth as they advance to the U SPORTS consolation final against the SMU Huskies tomorrow at noon. They will leave it all out on the court tomorrow and will end their season in front of their home crowd in the Burridge.