Women’s volleyball returns to court for big time contests with Badgers and Varsity Blues

HAMILTON, Ont. – After a six week break from OUA action, the #9 nationally-ranked McMaster Marauders women’s volleyball team makes its 2023 debut this weekend in two road contests. The maroon and grey will first head to St. Catharines for a Top 10 Friday night battle with the #2 Brock Badgers before traveling to Toronto for a tilt with the Varsity Blues on Sunday afternoon.
 

 
The Marauders and Badgers have faced off 22 times over the last ten years with McMaster owning the series 14-8. However, the Badgers have won seven straight OUA contests with the Marauders. The two teams have already met three time this year, twice in pre-season action and once in the regular season. Although Brock won each of the meetings (3-0, 3-2, 3-1), the Marauders have kept things close, winning three sets across this year’s meetings and will look to upset the top-ranked OUA team on the road this weekend. The only remaining undefeated team in the nation, the 10-0 Badgers have had an impressive start to the 2022-23 campaign, sitting in top spot in the OUA. Dropping just five sets over the fall term, the St. Catharines squad will look to continue its winning ways to start the new year. 

Members of two different divisions last season, the Marauders and Varsity Blues last faced each other in an OUA competition on November 16, 2019 in Hamilton. In a thriller, Toronto escaped with a 15-13 fifth set to take the game. The two teams have met 19 times since 2008 and with a 10-9 series record in favour of the Varsity Blues, the Marauders will look to even things up this Sunday afternoon in Toronto.The Varsity Blues struggled over the fall semester and entered the calendar year with a 2-7 record in the OUA but secured a 3-1 victory in its 2023 debut against the Guelph Gryphons this past Saturday. This will be the first conference meeting between the two squads this season.

The Marauders opened the 2022-23 OUA campaign with four straight wins before coming out on the wrong side of a 3-2 contest with the TMU Bold on November 18th. Since then, the Marauders have only picked up one loss and closed out 2022 with a four game win streak before entering the December break. With just three home contests still on the schedule, the maroon and grey will look to find their stride on the road, including in four contests with the top three times in the province, and finish strong to clinch a spot in the post-season.
 

Last Time Out

Before the December break, the McMaster Marauders faced the Queen’s Gaels in a two day double-header in Hamilton. In two five set thrillers, the Marauders came out on top to secure a Top 10 national ranking for the first time in five years. In the first game, Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.) led the Marauders with a staggering 21 kills, three service aces and 10 digs. Also contributing to the offense was Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) with nine kills and Paige Entwistle (Jerseyville, Ont.) with eight kills. Christina Stratford (Burlington, Ont.) had a strong performance with 23 assists, one kill and nine digs. On defense, Hayley Brookes (Burlington, Ont.) was consistent with 13 digs and displayed strong overall athleticism on the court. It was more of the same from the Marauders in the rematch. On the attack, Sullie Sundara (Kanata, Ont.) recorded 19 kills and four service aces, while Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) had an impressive performance with 11 kills. 
 

Players to Watch

Brock Badgers
 
#7 Sadie Dick, 2nd Year (Elig.), Outside Hitter

• Recorded 96 kills this season
• Leads the Badgers in blocks with 23 including 11 solo
• Has a .269 hitting percentage

#10 Madison Chimienti, 2nd Year (Elig.), Outside Hitter

• Team leader in total kills with 104, averaging 3.15 per set
• Ranks third in the OUA in service aces (18)
• Has 65 digs this season

McMaster Marauders
 
#5 Sullie Sundara, 2nd Year (Elig.), Outside Hitter

• Leads the Marauders in kills (155)
• Ranks 2nd in the conference in kills per set – 3.97 
• Has 19 service aces on the season (2nd in the OUA)

#7 Christina Stratford, 3rd Year (Elig.), Setter

• Ranks fifth in the OUA in total assists (282)
• Averages 7.23 assists per set (sixth in the OUA)
• Has recorded 72 digs on the season

Toronto Varsity Blues
 
#1 Julia Murmann, 2nd Year (Elig.), Outside Hitter

• Ranks sixth in the conference in kills with 104
• Second on the Varsity Blues in digs per set (3.53)
• Recorded six service aces on the season

#16 Hope Kotun, 4th Year (Elig.), Outside Hitter

• Ranks second in the OUA with 391 total attacks
• Averages 2.71 kills per set
• Recorded 88 digs through ten matches

Friday’s Game Coverage

Watch Live: https://oua.yaretv.com/

Instagram: @mcmasterwvb

Sunday’s Game Coverage

Watch Live: https://oua.yaretv.com/

Instagram: @mcmasterwvb
 

For the latest news and updates on the McMaster Marauders, follow @mcmastersports on social media or visit www.marauders.ca.