The No. 2 nationally ranked McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball start their playoff campaign this Saturday evening as they play host to the Windsor Lancers at Burridge Gym.
As the first-seed in the OUA West Division, and the only undefeated team in the conference, the Marauders have earned hosting rights throughout the playoff push starting with a quarter-final match-up taking place at 8pm this weekend.
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For both sides, this will be their fourth meeting this season, with the Marauders owning the season series record. But for the Lancers effort, they’ve given the Marauders more trouble than any other team in the division. McMaster has given up five sets in total all season long, with three coming at the hands of the Lancers, winning 3-2 in their season opener, and 3-1 to close out the season, with a 3-0 sweep in mid-February.
Putting together a perfect regular season for the first time since 2017 – a season where the squad finished as high as U SPORTS bronze medalists – the men’s volleyball team looks poised to make yet another deep playoff run. The Marauders lead the OUA in nearly every statistical category, ranking first in kills per set (11.63), hitting percentage (.319), assists per set (11.17), service aces per set (2.63), digs per set (8.93) and points per set (16.8), while ranking second in blocks per set (2.51).
Leading the charge for the Marauders has been outside hitter, Sam Cooper, putting teams on notice with his 0.88 service aces per game – the second best mark in the OUA. The second-year hitter also ranks third in points per set with 4.5 with the support of an OUA eighth best 3.20 kills per set. Defensively, fifth-year libero Jordan Pereira keeps the ship steady recording 1.90 digs per set, but it’s the intangibles for the 2020 Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit winner who’s been the commanding force on the team.
Also producing defensively is second-year middle Wojtek Kraj who ranks first in the OUA in blocks per set with 1.48 – averaging half a block more than the next best player. Offensively Mateusz Wlodarski has been one of the most efficient attackers in the league, ranking second in the OUA in hitting percentage with a .381 mark, while first-year Maxime Gratton hasn’t been far behind with a .326 percentage, ranking him fifth in the league.
With all this offensive power, much of the credit goes to first-year setter Robbie Fujisawa for keeping the squad’s play at pace, averaging 9.90 assists per set – the best mark in the OUA.
Unlike the Marauders, the Lancers sit middle of the pack when it comes to their regular season success. Finishing their season with the fourth-seed and a 4-6 record, with their wins coming from season series sweeps over the Waterloo Warrior and Guelph Gryphons.
Leaders on the team include fifth-year middle, Dami Alalade, who ranks second in blocks per set with 0.97 and third in hitting percentage, connecting on an efficient .370 percent of attacks. Meanwhile, second-year libero supports on the defensive end with an OUA sixth best 1.82 digs per set.
The winner of Saturday’s match-up will go on to play in the OUA semifinals which is slated to take place on Wed. March. 16th with the Forsyth Cup final scheduled for Sat. Mar. 19th.