The Marauders Found Redemption Against the Bold in Five Sets

HAMILTON, Ont. – The Marauders defeated the TMU Bold on Friday night in a five-set game in Burridge. Going into this game, McMaster held a nearly perfect record of 11-1, with their only loss coming from a five-set game against TMU in November. Tonight’s match was their chance for redemption, and to cement their confidence in their ability to take down any team in the OUA that they’ve faced so far.  

Leading McMaster’s offense were Maddy Lutes and Olivia Julien, who each made 11 kills. Jenna Woock and Emma McKinnon were up there too with nine kills each. The New Brunswick local, Lauryn Colpitts, led the team in assists and digs, with 34 and 22 respectively. Libero Christina Stratford made 19 digs and one kill.  

The Marauders came into the game fighting for redemption, taking the first point of the set. McMaster’s service skill shone through three service aces early in the game from McKinnon and Ellie Hatashita. The home team held an early lead, but halfway through the set, the Bold overturned it, as McMaster struggled with their defense through the long rallies. Coming off a Marauder timeout, fifth year Woock made a huge solo block, helping to revive McMaster’s defense. The Marauders struggled with their kills and accuracy late in the set, ultimately costing them the set. The Bold were able to edge out McMaster in the first set, 25-22.  

The Marauder tore away with the lead in the second set, determined to not let TMU win another set. Woock stayed strong on her blocks, showing her height and power at the net. Woock, being the only OUA Champion on the McMaster team from her time competing for the Toronto Blues, showed her experience under pressure. The Bold were forced to call a timeout as McMaster led dominantly 14-5. Sitting in a comfortable lead, the home team got some new faces into the rotation, subbing in Paige Entwistle, Ava Connelly, Victoria Potvin, and Abby Delamere. Libero Stratford made a strategic volley to earn a kill, as she jumped over the attack line to dump the ball into the center of TMU’s court. The home team closed off the set 25-12 with a service ace from Potvin to tie the game at one set for each team.  

McKinnon was able to find the holes in the Bold’s court early in the third set, and the Marauders started rolling through their offense. The home team seemed to have figured out how to attack the Bold’s defense, sending their kills long, near the baseline. TMU struggled with their serves, making seven service errors in the set. McMaster reached set point first, but TMU managed to stay alive for two more points, before Hatashita made a kill to finish off the set 25-22 for the home crowd.  

Going into the fourth set, McMaster was one set away from taking the win against TMU. The Bold had a strong start to the set, as the Marauders struggled to keep up. After three consecutive kills from TMU, the Marauders were forced to call a timeout to dial in their team. The Bold reached set point with a comfortable 24-16 lead, but McMaster stayed alive for two more points, until TMU inevitably won the set 25-18.  

The Marauders came out swinging in the fifth set, putting up the first four points, unanswered by TMU. Halfway through the set, the Marauders led 8-3, with kills coming through McMaster’s depth of players. Despite holding an early lead, the Bold tied it back up at the tenth point. TMU pulled out all the stops on their defense, holding strong as McMaster fought to break through and find the gaps on the court. Hatashita made an ace late in the set, but the teams kept tying until 14-14. Woock made a huge kill, earning McMaster’s 15th point, but the teams had to continue into extra points to win by two. In an intense ending, McMaster made an ace to win the game, 17-15.   

Up Next 

The Marauders improve their record to 12-1 and their win streak moves to seven after tonight’s monumental win against the Bold.