HAMILTON, Ont. — The McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball team (3-3) had a very strong weekend as they faced the Guelph Gryphons (1-5) on back-to-back nights as they claimed both victories.
Match 1 vs Guelph
On Friday, the Marauders and Gryphons traded scores in the early going. Ashton Fox-Kristensen (Elora, Ont.) tied the first set at 5 with a kill. The Gryphons took the next seven out 11 points and held a 12-9 lead. Jared Kuiken (London, Ont.) earned the momentum in the Marauders favor as he sent back a Gryphons attempt. The Marauders brought the set to 12 apiece as Robbie Fujisawa (North York, Ont.) set up Grayson Jarrett (Camrose, Alta.) for the monster spike. The Marauders earned their first lead of the set after a strong play by Maxime Gratton (Ottawa, Ont.). The Marauders and Gryphons continued to go back-and-forth in the later stages of the set. Fox-Kristensen added two more well-placed kills and the Marauders were down by two when Jarrett made a few strong plays. First, completing a successful attack followed shortly by a very strong dig which kept the play alive and eventually ended with a Kuiken score. The Gryphons took three of the next five points and won 25-23 in set one.
The second set was just as even as set one. Fox-Kristensen and first year, Seth O’Brien (Kingston, Ont.), accounted for three points as the game was tied at six. Three incredible defensive plays by the Marauders front led to three successful scores highlighted by Jarrett’s dazzling blocks on back-to-back plays. The Marauders took a 10-9 lead off of a brilliant Fujisawa pass that led Kuiken to a kill. Gratton had a very strong defensive point as he hammered home the score. Gratton continued his dominant set as he recorded another two kills and the game was tied at 15. A number of errors between both teams led to a 22-22 tie. The Gryphons scored on the next three points, taking set two, 25-22.
Guelph got off to a strong start leading 7-3. Fox-Kristensen and O’Brien combined for a block that chipped away at the lead. Cole Francis (Ottawa, Ont.) performed two great spikes and Fujisawa set up a strong play to Kuiken for the score but the Gryphons continued to lead 14-10. The Marauders climbed back into the set highlighted by points from Kuiken and Gratton. Kaden Zunti’s defensive sequence led to a kill by O’Brien and the game was tied at 16. Matthew Rugosi (Toronto, Ont.) made two important digs that both led to scores for the Marauders. Gratton added another score, and the Marauders earned a 25-20 win on set three.
Francis made a sneaky play early in set four to earn a point for the Marauders. Kills by Kuiken and O’Brien, earned the maroon a 6-4 lead. There was back-and-forth play as the Marauders took a 15-14 lead. O’Brien was a force as he recorded three kills in that time frame. Kuiken with another two successful attacks followed up by Gratton and Fox-Kristensen as the Marauders held a three-point lead. O’Brien’s thunderous block kept momentum in the Marauders favor and the Marauders would win set four, 25-23.
The fifth set was incredibly close as the set was tied at 5. O’Brien’s spike followed by Gratton’s two scores kept the game in reach. The set remained tied at 11. Gratton got amazing airtime on a kill which made it 12-11. Gratton impacted the set in all of the three final Marauder points enroute to McMaster’s 15-12 win.
The Marauders pulled out a very competitive 3-2 victory on match one of the weekend.
Match 2 vs Guelph
On Saturday, Maxime Gratton (Ottawa, Ont.) started off set one with two beautifully placed shots. Seth O’Brien (Kingston, Ont.) ended a great rally with a beautiful finish. Robbie Fujisawa (North York, Ont.) made a great diving save which led to a Marauders score. Fujiwasa set up Cole Francis (Ottawa, Ont.) with a brilliant pass and the game was tied at 7. The Gryphons and Marauders matched each other as the set continued to be tied at 15. Ashton Fox-Kristensen (Elora, Ont.) and O’Brien each added a kill and Jared Kuiken (London, Ont.) made a monstrous block as the Marauders had a 17-15 lead. Fujisawa and Gratton combined for a big block and Fujisawa made another diving save set up Gratton for a score. The Marauders earned two more points and came away with a 25-22 set one win.
Fujisawa made a great cross corner pass to Gratton for the point early in set 2. Fox-Kristensen performed a massive block followed by a kill as the Marauders led 6-4. Kuiken destroyed the ball for the point after a great rally. Fox-Kristensen and Gratton both scored and Kuiken timed up a block which earned the maroon an 11-6 lead. McMaster held on as Gratton leveled the ball for a 20-16 lead. Fujisawa set up Gratton for a score. Gratton followed up with another score and then O’Brien added to the maroon’s lead. McMaster won set two, 25-22.
Guelph had a strong start to set three as they held an early 4-2 lead. The Marauders quickly shut down their momentum as Fox-Kristensen denied Guelph’s attack evening the score at 4. Francis with a soft touch which fooled the Gryphons defense. Back-to-back service aces by Gratton and a Fox-Kristensen score increased the maroon’s lead to three. Francis had a great sequence as he made multiple saves and then scored the point for the Marauders. Gratton successfully added two more scores and Kuiken drilled the ball for a service ace as the Marauders cruised to a 25-12 set three win.
The Marauders earned their second win of the weekend as they swept Guelph 3-0 on Saturday.
Next up, the Marauders are in London to take on the Western Mustangs (0-2) on November 15th.
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