Box Score Game Summary

With first place on the line, the only two remaining OUA undefeated teams McMaster and Waterloo met on Sunday afternoon with the Marauders earning the 3-1 (25-23, 27-29, 25-14, 25-23) win.

The win keeps McMaster perfect on the season with a 7-0 record while Waterloo dropped their first contest and sit comfortably in second place at 6-1. 

The Marauders led most of the way for the first set, until a late Waterloo push gave the Warriors the lead at 23-22.  McMaster then bore down and won the last three points to take the set 25-23.

The second set saw the Warriors start slow and trail McMaster 16-11 at the technical timeout.  But behind some terrific defense and timely offense Waterloo fought its way back and eventually took the lead at 22-21. Marauder Coach Dave Preston called a timeout to slow down the Warrior surge, and it worked as McMaster went up 24-23 with a chance to win the set.  

Refusing to quit, the Warriors rallied and the teams went back and forth until Waterloo captured the second set 29-27.  It was the first set the Marauders have lost in OUA play so far this season.

McMaster stepped up the intensity in the third set, and controlled play en route to a 25-14 win to grab the 2-1 lead in the match.

Set number four looked like McMaster would end the match quickly as the Maroon raced out to a 9-3 lead.  After a Warrior timeout, the men from Waterloo started to climb back into the set and went ahead 14-13.   The teams continued to pace each other and Waterloo led 20-18, when Mac's Kevin Stevens served five straight points to put his team ahead 23-20.  The Warriors kept coming but McMaster was able to take the set 25-23 and win the match to assume sole possession of first-place in the OUA.

Marauders setter Austin Campion-Smith had 46 assists and made several key sets that allowed Mac hitters to score at crucial moments.   Jayson McCarthy led the Marauders with 16 kills, while Tyson Alexander and Jori Mantha followed up with 10 kills each.

For the Warriors, outside hitters Zachary Doherty (Goderich/) and Fiodar Kazhamiaka (Waterloo/) led their team in kills, each with 12.  Middle, Jordan Dyck (St. Catharines/) was one behind his teammates with 11 kills in the loss while adding three blocks.  Setter Scott Thomson (St. Marys/) contributed with 39 assists while second year libero Erich Woolley (New Dundee/) continued his torrid pace in defensive stats, adding another 11 digs.

The Warriors look to close out 2012 with two wins when they face the Ryerson Rams (Friday, 7pm) and Toronto Varsity Blues (Saturday, 6pm) at home in the PAC.