M-Volleyball Championship - McMaster downs Gaels to advance

LONDON, Ont. - The McMaster Marauders defeated the Queen's Gaels 3-1 in OUA semi-final action Friday night at Alumni Hall to advance to the OUA Finals.

Set scores were 25-14, 25-19, 23-25 and 25-23.

The first set saw McMaster take a five-point lead before Queen's gained possession. Ahead 16-8 at the second technical timeout, the Marauders put up big blocks alongside nine kills to take the set 25-14. Queen's veteran and regular season OUA points leader Joran Zeeman (Cambridge, Ont) had four kills for the Gaels.

In the second set, McMaster allowed Queen's to come within two points of tying the game, but could never take the lead.
Second-year outside hitter Kevin Stevens (Winnipeg, Manitoba) contributed five kills in the 25-19 win. The Marauders had 15 kills and 32 total attacks. Queen's completed the set with nine kills and 22 attacks.

In set three, the Queen's Gaels were down 8-5 and 16-12 at each technical timeout but roared back to take the third set 25-23, giving McMaster only a one-set advantage.

Queen's had 19 kills and 36 total attacks against 14 kills and 30 total attacks for McMaster.

The fourth and final set of the game went to McMaster with a tight set score of 25-23. OUA All-star Tyler Santoni had three kills and two solo blocks for the Marauders. They finished the set with 13 kills and 32 total attacks. The Gaels had 12 kills and 37 total attacks.

Players of the game were setter Jackson Dakin (Courtenay, BC) for the Gaels and Kevin Stevens for the Marauders.

McMaster will face either Western or Guelph in the OUA Championships tomorrow (Saturday February 26, 2011) at 7 p.m. at Alumni Hall on the campus of the University of Western Ontario.