Jack Mackley settles in with trust, spunk and excitement 

Hamilton, ON- Jack Mackley was psyched. He just heard his name called and he heard the fans in the Burridge Gym cheering as he stepped onto the court on game day. “Absolutely psyched out of my mind,” he recalled.  The McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball middle felt the butterflies in his stomach. He hadn’t played much in his university career thus far. He was a bench player … Continue reading Jack Mackley settles in with trust, spunk and excitement 

McMaster shows the art of punching back 

Hamilton, ON- They’ve been in these situations before. A close game. A fifth set. A match point. These high leverage situations. The biggest moments of a match.  The McMaster Marauders women’s volleyball team had won many games and prevailed in some of those moments. They had lost some as well – including their only loss of the regular season against the TMU Bold on Nov. 25.  … Continue reading McMaster shows the art of punching back 

Everything comes full circle for Jenna Woock 

Hamilton, ON- One day earlier this year, Jenna Woock was scrolling through her camera roll on her phone. She found one photo from way back when she committed to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.  Her older sister Rachel was playing for the McMaster Marauders at the time. They thought it would be funny to take a photo of themselves staring down at each other because … Continue reading Everything comes full circle for Jenna Woock 

“A Surreal Feeling”: McMaster’s depth and youth put to the test

Hamilton, ON- Brady Paterson remembered what it felt like when it happened.  The McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball team was up two sets to none on the Western Mustangs on Jan. 13, when outside hitters Maxime Gratton and Brendan Mills collided head-on-head. Both went to the ground – Mills staying down for a while – before going out of the game.  Paterson remembers that super scary feeling … Continue reading “A Surreal Feeling”: McMaster’s depth and youth put to the test

Emma McKinnon revamped with health, work and mojo

Hamilton, ON- As the McMaster Marauders women’s volleyball team took the court against the Western Mustangs on Dec. 12, Emma McKinnon heard what her teammates and coaches were discussing.  They talked about playing with more urgency and having a no mercy attitude – especially as they built their lead. “Not really letting them coming back in at all,” McKinnon said. What did that mean for the … Continue reading Emma McKinnon revamped with health, work and mojo

“Playing for each other”: McMaster comes together in new year  

Hamilton, ON- As the McMaster Marauders women’s volleyball team embarked upon Edmonton in late December, Nathan Janzen wondered how the trip would affect their regular season.  The Marauders’ head coach could feel he and everyone else being torn away from their families as they sat in the airport on December 27 awaiting their flight westward. “You don’t want to get on a plane,” Janzen recalled. “You … Continue reading “Playing for each other”: McMaster comes together in new year  

Maddy Lutes realizes the big picture 

Hamilton, ON- Before the game starts, Maddy Lutes has already braced herself for what’s about to come. She knows she’ll make mistakes. She knows things will happen that she doesn’t want to.  Lutes is not scared of it though. She knows how to react. She knows how she’ll need to be composed to do so. The McMaster Marauders third-year outside hitter trained for this. Lutes made … Continue reading Maddy Lutes realizes the big picture 

“Earned not given”: Haben Yohannes and the value of the little details 

Hamilton, ON- Haben Yohannes knows the legacy of the McMaster men’s volleyball program. He’s played under legendary former head coach Dave Preston. He’s played with former teammates Sam Cooper, Mateusz Wlodarski and Wojciech Kraj.  He understood and felt what being part of that program meant after the Marauders loss to the Windsor Lancers on Nov. 18. “A bad taste in your month,” he described it as. … Continue reading “Earned not given”: Haben Yohannes and the value of the little details 

Jenna Woock back competing with Marauders community 

Hamilton, ON- Jenna Woock hadn’t been injured before – at least not to this extent. So, when the McMaster Marauders fifth-year middle injured her foot this preseason, she learned about what it would require. She learned what she missed.  It was a new experience for the Richmond Hill native who – through all her years in high school, the University of Toronto and professionally in Hungary … Continue reading Jenna Woock back competing with Marauders community 

“It felt really good”: Palanca and Heidbuurt earns opportunities with Marauders’ depth

Hamilton, ON- Aidan Palanca couldn’t help but smile. The second-year libero had worked hard all week in practice and here was his chance. He soaked it all in until the very end.  Palanca hasn’t played in many games but played more than ever in the McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball team’s three set victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Nov. 10.  He alternated with libero Ben Kerkhoff, … Continue reading “It felt really good”: Palanca and Heidbuurt earns opportunities with Marauders’ depth