Marauders sweep into Final Four with win over Lions

HAMILTON, Ont. - Hitting efficiently as a group, and enjoying a few well-timed service runs, the Marauders made quick work of the York Lions in an OUA quarter final Saturday.

McMaster swept aside York in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, to advance to the OUA Final Four for a third consecutive season.

With Ryerson's victory Saturday, the Rams confirmed their status as tournament host, and will welcome the top four teams in the conference to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on March 9 and 10.

The Marauders will take on the OUA East's second-seeded Toronto Varsity Blues in a semi final, as they continue their quest to defend their OUA title.

Frequently able to find the floor in a short encounter, the Marauders hit .326 as a team, with middle Hailey Kranics (Fort Erie, ON) proving almost unstoppable for the Lions with nine kills and just a single error on 14 attempts. She added two and a half blocks for 11.5 points on the night.

Leading McMaster and the match with 13.5 points, veteran outside hitter Aleks Arsovic(Burlington, ON) had 13 kills and hit .333 while shouldering the highest burden of any hitter on the floor, with 30 attempts.

After a straightforward opening set, the Marauders trailed the second and looked in danger of dropping it at 18-16, before a crucial service run from rookie setter Rebecca Maxwell(Cambridge, ON) saw Mac reel off five consecutive points and re-establish control.

A similar pattern played out in the third, with the teams deadlocked at 20 before a kill from Arsovic sided out for McMaster and brought Maxwell to the line, where she knocked down three aces and held for five straight points to close out the match.

Source: McMaster Marauders