Marauders Defeat Varsity Blues to go Undefeated this Weekend

The Marauders shut out the Varsity Blues in four sets on Sunday afternoon in Toronto. They close out the weekend with two impressive wins and extend their win streak to five.  

On offense, it was not surprising that Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.) led the team, as the outside hitter contributed 20 kills and 12 digs. Ana Strbac (Oakville, Ont.) showed impressive skill with three service aces, and Ellie Hatashita (Kanata, Ont.) followed Sundara with seven kills and one service ace. Libero Hayley Brookes (Burlington, Ont.) had a great game with 18 digs, while Christina Stratford (Burlington, Ont.) supported with 28 assists.  

Coming off a big win on Friday night, the Marauders hoped to carry that offensive momentum into Sunday’s game against the Varsity Blues. In the first set, Sundara led the attack with an incredible eight kills and only one error, while outside hitter Hatashita contributed two kills and a service ace. The Marauders were able to finish the set comfortably with a service ace from Stratford, closing the score at 25-17.  

After losing the first set, the Varsity Blues came out strong on their home court with the first three points of the second set. The Marauders struggled to regain the momentum they found in the first set, as Toronto started to gain the lead. An ace from Strbac helped the Marauders get back on track to close the gap on the scoreboard. Despite this, the offensive momentum stayed on Toronto’s side, as they managed to gain a 10-point lead. The Varsity Blues reached the set point first, but McMaster fought to stay alive. Ultimately, McMaster was not able to close in on Toronto’s lead and they fell 25-17, reversing the score from the first set.  

The third set was consistently back and forth, with neither team able to find a substantial lead. The Marauders continued to have a slight edge, gaining two or three-point leads throughout the set, but the Varsity Blues fought back, continuously tying the score. Brookes carried on having a strong defensive game with her digs, proving herself as a force to reckon with on the Marauder defense. Two huge back-to-back blocks late in the set by the Marauders’ front line helped them secure the last few points, edging out Toronto 25-21. 

The fourth set continued similarly to the third, as both teams were strong on their blocks at the net, shutting down each other’s offense. The Marauders were able to generate some offense with five consecutive points, showing dynamic offense with kills coming from both sides of the court. Leading the offense was Sundara with four kills, as their momentum built, and they tore away with the lead. Brookes made nine digs, while Stratford made nine assists, helping the Marauders remain comfortable in their growing lead. McMaster was able to finish the game with a strong last set, 25-14.  

Up Next 

The Marauders will play next on Wednesday at home against the York Lions. They will hope to extend their win streak after an impressive weekend on the road.