For the second time in as many days, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s volleyball team faced off against the McMaster Marauders at Goldring Center, defeating the visitors in an intense four-set match on Saturday (Oct. 26) night.
Set scores in the Blues win were 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22.
The game showcased Toronto’s resilience, especially after a first-set loss to the defending OUA champion Marauders. However, Toronto surged back in the second set, capitalizing on strong offensive play and continued this momentum to take the next two sets. The Blues displayed a solid defense with 44 total digs, while holding McMaster to just a .147 hitting percentage throughout the entirety of the four sets.
Leading the Blues, fourth-year outside hitter Hunter Arulpragasam recorded the most kills with 13, while fifth-year middle Lukas Humle dominated at the net and service line, registering .615 hitting percentage on nine kills, two solo blocks, and two crucial service aces. Michael Hickey orchestrated the team’s offense with 33 total assists, while Iannis Toma and Arulpragasm played a crucial role defensively, recording a team-high 10 digs each.
McMaster put up a challenging front, with standout performances from Cole Francis and Maxime Gratton, who both registered double-digit kills. Despite their efforts, the Marauders were unable to overcome Toronto’s consistent play and late-game push.
Toronto’s back-to-back wins over McMaster marks a strong showing as they continue their season nest welcoming the Brock Badgers to Goldring Centre next weekend. The Blues and Badgers will see first serve on Friday (Nov. 8) night at 7:30 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. start on Saturday (Nov. 9). Tickets for the U of T home games can be purchased at varsityblues.ca/tickets, while all the action will be streamed live and on-demand at oua.tv.
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