In a game that started as a suspense-thriller with all the signs of turning into an epic, the McMaster Marauders quickly created a tragedy for the hometown Varsity Blues.
On Saturday night, in front of a boisterous Athletic Centre crowd that featured several hundred fans to support both teams, the Marauders put the hammer to Toronto, winning four sets for their first OUA women’s volleyball championship.
It was easy to see the parity between the two teams, with 22 ties and nine lead changes in the first set. The Blues prevailed, 30-28, with Kristina Valjas sending the home crowd into a frenzy, finishing the set with one of nine kills of the match. However, the Marauders were lights out after that.
McMaster robbed the Blues of their national championship dreams by playing nearly fl awless volleyball, committing only six errors throughout the final three sets. This came much to the delight to their fans, growing louder as victory became more evident.
McMaster head coach Tim Louks watched proudly as his players took the game away from Toronto, committing only 13 errors in the match, along with just two service errors.
“I think maybe we just got a few more breaks and a few more blocks […] They were solid, there were very few breakdowns, they were on a mission,” Louks said. “What do you say when you’re playing such a great team? [Toronto’s] one of the best teams and will continue to be one of the best programs in the country.”
Besides committing very few errors, another key to McMaster’s victory took place at the net as they blocked Toronto attackers’ 18 spikes. The Blues managed only three blocks, all by Valjas.
Hamilton native and second-year Marauder middle Sarah Kiernan, who had six kills and four blocks of her own, said her team has been riding high for awhile, winning 15 straight since a Nov. 11 loss to the Western Mustangs.
“We’ve won a lot of games in four [sets], so after the first one it was really close and we just wanted to cool out, take our time,” said Kiernan. “We just pushed, pushed and pushed, tried to figure out their weaknesses, and we did.”
Varsity Blues head coach Kristine Drakich, clearly upset at the loss, agreed that Kiernan’s team took it to them.
“I think McMaster was better today. They played very well. I was a little disappointed of our start in the second set after winning the first set,” Drakich said, “but I was really proud. We kept fighting all the way through, even though things weren’t going so well but McMaster was relentless.”
Having coached starters Mila Miguel and Anastasia Danilova for the last time in a Blues uniform made the loss harder for Drakich to swallow.
“I think Mila and Asya played well in this match. It’s just unfortunate that we weren’t necessarily ready for the long haul,” Drakich said.
A tearful Danilova, who led all players with 24 kills, said it will take some time for her team to get over the loss.
“I guess life goes on, but for now it sucks,” Danilova said. “I did enjoy this year. It was amazing, although the end was not what we expected. Overall, it was probably my best year. The girls [were] the best girls ever.”
McMaster will now travel to the University of New Brunswick to represent Ontario in their first national championship appearance, starting Thursday, Feb. 28 with national champion crowned on March 1.
