North York, Ont. – The Marauders closed out their 2023-24 regular season with a win over the York Lions in four sets.
Leading McMaster’s offense was Brendan Mills with 15 kills, two service aces, and three solo blocks. Alongside him was teammate Maxime Gratton with 13 kills, one service ace, and six digs. Captain Robbie Fujisawa supported with 31 assists and eight digs.
The Marauders took the early lead in the first set, but the Lions were determined to keep the score close on their home court. York was able to tie the score back up at the seventh point, and the competition was intense, as the teams continued to tie up to the eleventh point. York began to gain some offensive momentum, distancing themselves on the scoreboard with a 19-15 lead. In one of York’s best sets all season, they were able to turn the score around and take the first set 25-19.
The Marauders took the first set as motivation to fight even harder, and this showed clearly at the start of the second set. McMaster found seven consecutive points before York was able to get a single point on the board. Gratton made a service ace mid-set, helping to continue extending McMaster’s lead. Aidan Palanca subbed in for a serve, making an ace and lighting up the away bench. The Marauders finished the second set with a dominant 25-12 win.
First year Brady Paterson opened the third set with a kill set up by Fujisawa, stunning York’s defense. Following him, Gratton made two consecutive kills, displaying his vertical and athleticism at the net. Despite their confident start, the Lions clawed their way back onto the scoreboard, tying the score at 11-11. The teams exchanged errors, with the set looking like it could go either way. McMaster landed on top, with some errors from York resulting in a 25-22 score.
Mills opened with the first kill of the fourth set, followed by a kill from Paterson. The set was looking to have a similar start to the second, with McMaster earning the first four points. Mills came through with two huge service aces mid-set, advancing the Marauders to a 16-9 lead. Outside hitter Mills put up the final kill of the game, securing the win for McMaster, with a score of 25-15.
Up Next
The Marauders will begin their playoff run on Saturday, Feb. 24th in Burridge. They finish the regular season with a record of 16-4 and are coming off a five-game win streak.