Women’s volleyball team falls short 3-2 to York in last regular season game

TORONTO, Ont. – The regular season is finally finished, though the Marauders would have preferred a different ending. Tonight’s game against the York Lions ended in a 3-2 loss. After losing the first two sets, the Marauders made a remarkable comeback to tie it 2-2, but were unable to finish the job in the fifth. The women now move onto the playoffs which start next week. 

SET RECAP 

Both teams started with new lineups, as expected in the last game of the regular season. The scoreline was extremely tight throughout the lengthy first set. The York blockers closed in very well to prevent McMaster from getting kills. However, the Marauders succeeded at that, too, led by outside hitter Abby Delamere who picked up 3 blocks. First year middles, Ava Connelly and Angelika Vidmar also provided a towering presence at the net. A 24-24 tie brought the set into extras. It was a continuous back and forth from there. York, already being shut out from the playoffs, had nothing to lose and they eventually closed the set out 33-31 with an ace. McMaster’s outside hitter Paige Entwistle had a phenomenal set, recording 6 kills, 1 ace, and 7 digs. Leading the McMaster defense, libero Hayley Brookes returned multiple powerful hits to gain 8 digs. 

Fired up from that dramatic win, York went on to play terrifically in the second set. They developed a significant lead early on which they were able to maintain throughout. McMaster fought hard on defense, forcing some long rallies, but were ultimately overwhelmed. The Lions won the second set by a landslide, 25-16. 

The Marauders played much better to start the third. It looked almost like a repeat of the first set as both teams were neck and neck for the first half. There were plenty of dramatic plays filled with scrambles and dives. McMaster was able to put together a slim lead midway through but York persevered to remain within arm’s length. Refusing defeat, the Marauders blazed on to win it 25-19. It was an impressive set for Ava Connelly who had 4 kills and 1 block.

The beginning of the fourth set brough yet another deadlock, which neither team was able to break until the very end. Early on, both teams had plenty of service and attacking errors that allowed them to exchange quick, easy points. Angelika Vidmar was instrumental in the middle of the set as she recorded a series of kills, topped off with an ace. The plays grew longer and more desparate towards the end of the set. A particularly long rally, when the Marauders led 23-22, was ended by a looping kill down the line by Emma McKinnon. She played outstandingly, recording 6 kills and 1 block to help the team win the fourth set 25-22 and bring the game into a fifth set. 

The Marauders were eager to finish the job after coming back from their 2-0 setback. They played multiple back-row hits in an attempt to catch the Lions off-guard, but instead gave away points due to attacking errors. This allowed York to develop a small lead, which they slowly lengthened throughout the set. The Marauders seemed frazzled as they continued to make errors in their sets and hits, and the Lions blockers were on a roll. York took the victory as they won the set 15-9.

IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES

Despite the new lineups, there were numerous great showings from the team today. Emma McKinnon played fiercely on offense, recording 15 kills and 2 blocks. Her and Hayley Brookes led the team in digs as both of them had 18. With 0 attacking and serving errors, Angelika Vidmar recorded an extremely efficient 11 kills, 3 aces, and 2 blocks. 

Paige Entwistle had an all-rounded game with her 13 kills, 3 aces, and 14 digs. She reached a career-high for kills in a single game, which, this being her last regular season game with the team after 4 seasons, made for an especially impactful milestone.

LOOKING FORWARD

The excitement is just beginning. The OUA playoffs kick off next week and the Marauders will play their quarter-finals game on Saturday, February 24. Their exact seed and opponent are unconfirmed for now, as they depend on tomorrow’s games for the remaining OUA teams. The women have been playing tremendously this season and improving bit by bit, so this is bound to be an entertaining and impressive playoff run!