McMaster Marauders crowned OUA Men's Volleyball Champions

LONDON, Ont. – The McMaster Marauders are the 2011 OUA Men’s Volleyball Champions after defeating the Western Mustangs 3-1 Saturday night at Alumni Hall.

Set scores were 17-25, 23-25, 25-18, 22-25.

In the first set, the McMaster Marauders outplayed the Western Mustangs winning 25-17. They maintained a three-point lead at each technical timeout despite six kills from Mathieu Poulin and 27 total attacks from Western.

The second set was much of the same. The Mustangs had an early lead, but could not hold on and the Marauders led 8-7 at the first technical. It was neck and neck to the second technical when the Marauders pulled ahead for good on a kill from OUA Final Four MVP Tyler Santoni. The Mustangs had a total of ten kills and 28 attacks in the set. 

By the third set, Western was down two sets and determined to come out with a win. They had a four-point advantage at the first technical, but McMaster came back to tie at 15. Reid Halpenny came up with two solid serves followed by Phil James with a hard cross-court kill. Western then looked to have the motivation they needed and wrapped up the set 25-18.

The fourth set was extremely tight, but McMaster came away with a 25-22 win that could just as easily have gone to Western. Both teams went point for point for the first half with McMaster pulling ahead just before the second technical. Western would not be able to come back from the deficit.

Mikasa Players of the game were Tyler Santoni for McMaster and Poulin for Western.

The McMaster Marauders advance to the CIS Championships being held at Trinity Western University in British Columbia from March 4 – 6.

Source: Western Athletics