TORONTO, Ont. — This Friday, the McMaster Marauders kicked off their 2024 season with a doubleheader against the Toronto Varsity Blues.
McMaster lost both matches 3-1.
McMaster made Toronto earn every point in the first set. Robbie Fujisawa (North York, Ont.) set up multiple teammates for kills to keep the score close. The Marauders trailed by as many as 7 late in the set, but mounted a late push to come back within two. They would finish the set losing 25-23, despite the late pressure.
The second set featured a lot of back and forth action. Half way through McMaster would come up with a few big blocks from Ashton Fox-Kristensen (Elora, Ont.) and Jared Kuiken (London, Ont.). Kuiken would also record a service ace to put McMaster up by three. Jason Heidbuurt (Hamilton, Ont) added two more service aces late in the set to seal the 25-19 win for McMaster.
The third set started off with two blocks from Fox-Kristensen and later Kaden Zunti (Burlington, Ont.) added back to back kills. Haben Yohannes (Scarborough, Ont.) recorded a service ace to help keep the score close. McMaster would tie it up at 18 but ultimately lose the set 25-21.
The first point of set four came off a kill by Maxime Gratton (Ottawa, Ont.). Half way through, a few kills by Seth O’Brien (Kingston, Ont.) kept the score close but Toronto would run away with it to win the final set 25-19.
On Saturday, McMaster started the match well, winning the first set 25-20, and held the lead for the entire set. Many players contributed to the offensive pressure with kills coming from Cole Francis (Ottawa, Ont.), Gratton, Zunti and Fujisawa.
McMaster kept it close for the second set thanks to a block from Kuiken and more strong serves from Gratton but ended up losing the set 25-21.
In set three, Zunti recorded a service ace to tie the game at five but Toronto would hold onto the lead after that and win the set 25-21.
In set four, Kuiken put some energy in the offense with a kill to tie it at 11. Then, half way through McMaster came up with some big blocks from Gratton, Jack Mackley (Toronto, Ont.), Zunti and Kuiken, but Toronto pulled away in the end to win the final set 25-22.
Up Next: Another double header against Nippising Lakers at Burridge Gym November 1st and 2nd.
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