The Marauders fell in four sets to the Warriors on Saturday night in Waterloo. They pick up their third loss of the season after having a seven game win streak.
Leading the Marauders’ attack was Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.), with an impressive 19 kills, while Emma McKinnon (Milton, Ont.) made nine kills. Chayse Victoria (Oakville, Ont.) led the team with 17 assists, while libero Hayley Brookes (Burlington, Ont.) had 16 digs.
The first set started out as a close match, with both teams strong on their defense. They continued to match each other until the seventh point. Waterloo began to find a small lead, forcing the Marauders to be the first to use a timeout after six consecutive Warrior points. The point differential on the scoreboard continued to grow, as the Marauders struggled to defend as the Warriors reached set-point. Waterloo was strong on their home court and finished the set confidently with a service ace and a score of 25-13.
After a difficult first set, the Marauders hoped to bring new intensity to the second. The points went back and forth, but the Warriors continued to find holes in the Marauders defense. Libero Brookes showcased athleticism through eight impressive digs, as the team fought to keep the score close throughout the set. Sundara had an outstanding eight kills in the set, while McKinnon made three. Ultimately, McMaster was able to out edge the Warriors and won the set 25-23.
The third set started out close, as the teams were matched up on the scoreboard. Waterloo gained momentum and were able to score consecutive points without response from the Marauders multiple times. Attempting to keep McMaster in the set, Victoria and Ana Strbac (Oakville, Ont.) each made service aces, while Sundara made four kills. Near the end of the set, McMaster couldn’t stop the Warrior’s offense, as they racked up the points to win 25-18.
The fourth and final set of the game was similar to the third, with the teams starting the set out as a close match. The Marauders struggled with their errors but were able to keep themselves in the game until late in the set. Victoria made another service ace and Sundara made four kills, but the Marauders couldn’t keep up with the home team’s intensity. Waterloo scored four consecutive points to finish the game 25-19.
Up Next
The Marauders will now have a short break before facing off against the RMC Paladins at home on February 3rd and 4th.