HAMILTON, Ont. (November 9, 2018) – The Queen's Gaels (3-2) upset the top-ranked team in Canada, the No.1 McMaster Marauders (2-1) in a five-set thriller on Friday night, 25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 25-27, 15-13.
After proving that they were a team to be reckoned with last weekend, the Gaels managed to hold on in the fifth set and defeat the defending OUA champions.
GAME FLOW
The two teams played back-and-forth to start the opening set eventually leading to a McMaster 10-9 lead. However, the Gaels took control by scoring 16 of the next 25 points to take the first set.
The set win marked the first time an opponent had taken a set off the Marauders this season.
To start the second set, the Gaels found themselves in an 8-4 hole. However, they would take advantage of nine Marauders' errors and took the set 25-21.
With their backs against the wall, the Marauders came out hot to start the third set. They jumped out to a 6-1 lead eventually building their advantage to ten points. With ten match points to play with, the Gaels started slowly chipping away but eventually fell 25-19.
The Marauders would take the fourth set as well however, the Gaels did not let McMaster gain any more momentum than they could have. With the Marauders in control mid-set, the Gaels kept forcing their hand and bringing the set to within a single point. With both teams locked 25-25, the Marauders took consecutive points off a kill and service ace from Nathan Delguidice to force a fifth set.
Friday's game marked the fifth game in a row to start the season where the Gaels have gone to a fifth and final set.
The Marauders would jump out to a quick 5-1 lead but the Gaels battled back to grab a lead of their own at 8-7. Eventually the Gaels would work their way to match point where
Adam Boljkovac's kill sealed the win and the upset.
MUST-SEE MOMENTS
BY THE NUMBERS
16.5 –
Zac Hutcheson led the way with 16.5 points on Friday night
34 –
Zane Grossinger continues his great start to the season with a 34-assist performance.
1 – The Gaels take down the top team in the country in their home court and rise to the top of the OUA East.
UP NEXT
Tomorrow the Gaels will take on the Brock Badgers (1-4) in St. Catharines. Game time is set for 8pm.
