A look at how a first-year Seth O'Brian helped the Marauders get back to winning, and where he can go from here
Through Nov. 8 to 9, the Marauders men’s volleyball team competed against the Guelph Gryphons back-to-back games in the OUA regular season, picking up wins and improving their record to three wins and three losses.
The Marauders won their first game on Friday Nov. 8, 3-2 against the Gryphons. Their second game was not as close, with the Marauders sweeping the Gryphons 3-0 in a best-out-of-five series.
Through both competitions, it was rookie Seth O’Brien, a first-year commerce student, who stood out with a strong performance. Finishing with a total of 24 kills through the two games, he greatly contributed to the Marauders’ wins.
He also scored the most combined aces, or points of a serve.
“I was really pumped and super excited to be on the court and show my abilities, [but I also] wanted to be on the court to play with my fellow friends and do whatever I could to make this weekend a winning one,” said O’Brien.
I was really pumped and super excited to be on the court and show my abilities, [but I also] wanted to be on the court to play with my fellow friends and do whatever I could to make this weekend a winning one.
Seth O'Brien, first-year commerce student
Marauders Men's Volleyball
O’Brien did not play the first two games of the season against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. He told the Silhouette he was asked to start after one of the Marauders’ right-side hitters got injured ahead of their game against the Nipissing Lakers.
“I found out I was going to start against Nipissing an hour before the game . . . Right away, I kind of went into this sense of this is an awesome opportunity and this is really what I’ve been looking forward to and a lot of first years do not get that opportunity,” said O’Brien.
After a strong performance against the Lakers, O’Brien was once again named to the starting lineup against the Gryphons. He told the Silhouette the team was looking to get back on track after losing three of their last four games.
“We went into the weekend 1-3, which is where we didn’t want to be. So, the team went in with a lot of motivation," said O'Brien.
O’Brien has been playing volleyball at a competitive level for two years. With the recommendation of his high school coach, O'Brien started playing at a competitive level for a club team.
“When I made that team, I devoted all my spare time to volleyball. My first year was obviously a bit tough, being new to the sport, but I developed a lot in my second year in a short period of time,” said O’Brien.
In the span of two years, O’Brien played for Team Ontario and competed in the Canada Cup where he was named tournament All-Star.
Receiving a sports scholarship for McMaster, O’Brien said he’s loved every minute of being on the team so far.
“Everybody’s been a rookie, so [my teammates] have all been through it. Being a rookie in that locker room - I feel very supported,” said O'Brien.
Everybody’s been a rookie, so [my teammates] have all been through it. Being a rookie in that locker room - I feel very supported.
Seth O'Brien, first-year commerce student
Marauders Men's Volleyball
O’Brien finished by expressing that he is looking forward to playing against the team's upcoming competition. “It’s an awesome experience getting to play against teams at their best, but we still have to show up and keep our winning streak going,” said O’Brien.
The Marauders will take on the Brock Badgers on Nov. 22nd and 23rd in St. Catherines. They will play 10 more OUA regular season games, hoping to make the finals on March 7, 2025.
Following an inspiring 2023-2024 season, McMaster women's volleyball sees continued success this season winning all games as of yet
After the close defeats and heartbreaking eliminations in the 2022-2023 season, McMaster women’s volleyball team has come out on a hot streak this season. The team has won all four of their regular season games.
In their most recent season, the Marauders were one win away from claiming the Ontario University Athletics champion title. They fell short to their rival Brock University in the Quigley Cup Final on Mar. 8, 2023.
Shortly after this loss, the Marauders went on to compete in the U Sport’s National Championship, which they hosted. They suffered another defeat in the first round of this championship, as they fell to the University of British Columbia with a score of one to three.
Though in this competition, the Marauders seemed to turn their early exit into triumph. They went on to beat the Brock Badgers in the U Sport Consolation Semifinal and subsequently won against Saint Mary’s University in the U Sports consolation final, ending their season with their highest ever national placement.
The form in which the Marauders ended their last season has seemingly carried over to the 2024-2025 season. The Marauders women's volleyball team has won each of their first four games, all with the same score, three to zero.
They have so far played against and beat the University of Toronto and the Nipissing Lakers. Key returning players have been crucial to these wins, including fourth year players Sullie Sundara and Chayse Victoria.
Similarly, second year Olivia Julien has been in form as she leads the team in overall kills with 41 total in these first four games.
The Marauders will hope to keep up this win streak as they take on the University of Guelph on Nov. 8. at home in the Burridge Gymnasium.
After a productive season before the winter break, the Marauder's men's volleyball team looks forward to the second half of their season
The McMaster University men’s volleyball team began their season back in September, with a series of preseason exhibition games. The team faced opponents such as Queen’s University, Trinity Western University, and Ohio State University. They picked up a wide array of scores and results, with the team mostly losing their first games of 2023.
As they moved in their Ontario University Athletics season, the team quickly turned these defeats around. Under the guidance of new head coach Brad Douwes, the team has picked up a record of seven wins and two losses.
Under the guidance of new head coach Brad Douwes, the team has picked up a record of seven wins and two losses.
They recorded sweeping wins [again citations needs from these games] against the University of Waterloo, Toronto Metropolitan University and Guelph University to end off 2023. Newer team players have stepped up this season too, including first-year outside hitter Brady Paterson who has recorded 32 kills so far.
As McMaster's winter break commenced, the Marauder’s volleyball team continued to play. They kept in form as they played against the University of Sherbrooke and the University of Montreal on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 respectively.
Likely fearing a loss of form over the break, the team traveled to these schools looking to keep standards high as they returned to the OUA season. The team won against the University of Sherbrooke and lost against the University of Montreal.
The exhibition games proved successful for the maroon and grey, as they picked up wins in their first two games back from break. McMaster faced Nipissing University, winning their first game with by a score of 3-2 sets and subsequently sweeping the Nipissing Lakers in their second matchup.
The Marauders men's team still has half of their season to play, with ten more games until they reach the OUA playoffs in hopes of claiming their twelfth OUA title.
The Marauders men's team still has half of their season to play, with ten more games until they reach the OUA playoffs.
McMaster will look to book their ticket to this year’s national championships, as they have before in the past year. The team will hope to reach new heights under Douwes' leadership after falling in the previous U Sports championships at the semifinals stage.
After winning the OUA title last year, the men's volleyball team kicks off the season with a close win at home
Last year, the McMaster University men’s volleyball team finished the regular season with a near perfect 18-2 record. The Marauders went on to win the 2023 Ontario University Athletics provincial championship and place third at the U Sports national championship.
Amidst the success, the men’s volleyball team gained itself a considerable fanbase, documentary series and some big expectations for this year.
On Sept. 4, the Marauders played their first regular season game at home against the University of Toronto with a close win in the fifth set.
The game opened with a 19-25 first set loss against the Varsity Blues. McMaster fought back to win the second set 25-21 and the third set 25-19 with notable efforts from Maxime Gratton, Robbie Fujisawa, and Tyler Pavelic.
The Marauders lost some momentum and began to stumble in the fourth set, losing 15-25. However, McMaster quickly cleaned up their offense to win the fifth set 15-12 following an electrifying final point from Brendan Mills.
However, McMaster quickly cleaned up their offense to win the fifth set 15-12 following an electrifying final point from Brendan Mills.
Despite the graduation of several veterans players from the roster, including Wojciech Kraj, Mateusz Wlodarski and Sam Cooper, the win showcased some of McMaster’s promising new talent.
Despite the graduation of several veterans players from the roster, including Wojciech Kraj, Mateusz Wlodarski and Sam Cooper, the win showcased some of McMaster’s promising new talent.
Brady Paterson, a first-year outside hitter, was introduced into the starting lineup and finished the game with six kills. Another rookie, Jared Kuiken, also made an appearance in the home opener. Third-year player Haben Yohannes earned more minutes and finished with six kills and three blocks.
This was the first regular season game coached by Hamilton local Brad Douwes, who served as the former assistant coach for the Marauders in the 2021-2022 season. This May, Douwes was named head coach following the retirement of three-time National Coach of the Year, Dave Preston.
Despite all these changes, the first game back shows that there is lots more to look forward to for the men’s volleyball team. The Marauders face off against the University of Waterloo Warriors next on Nov. 10, before heading on the road for a game on Nov. 11 against the York University Lions and games on Nov. 17 and 18 against the University of Windsor Lancers.
Courts funded by the Student Life Enhancement Fund will be available for student use in the fall
On Aug. 7, the McMaster Students Union announced McMaster University agreed to refurbish two outdoor volleyball courts for the upcoming year. Previously part of a project under the Student Life Enhancement Fund, the courts at the Oval, located near the David Braley Athletic Centre and the Ivor Wynne Centre, will be open to students later in the fall.
In partnership with McMaster Student Affairs, the MSU has historically used the SLEF fund to support the development of student proposals for projects that enhance student life and community. Reviewed by the Student Services Committee, these proposals must meet specific criteria for approval, including being student driven, innovative and considerate of environmental impact.
Recent examples of projects backed by the SLEF include the Mac Community Kitchen, napping pods in the McMaster University Student Centre and the MacAccess Resource Library.
The courts’ revival was proposed by MSU president, Jovan Popovic, in Student Representative Assembly reports on Jun. 18 and Jun. 20. In the Jun. 20 report Popovic referenced a sign posting for the outdoor volleyball courts in Parking Lot H. The space had been originally outlined as a temporary parking lot for the construction of the Peter George Living and Learning Centre.
The courts’ revival was proposed by MSU president, Jovan Popovic, in Student Representative Assembly reports on Jun. 18 and Jun. 20.
Despite the building’s completion in 2019, the parking lot has since remained with the construction gear still present on the site. In a remote SRA meeting on Jun. 25, Popovic stated that approximately $20,000 of money collected from undergraduate student service fees was being wasted with the uncleared gear.
About a month and a half later, the MSU followed up with an Instagram video announcing that the university had agreed to revive the courts in time for the upcoming fall semester at no additional charges to students. A key focus of the project’s restoration was centred around the development of opportunities to promote recreation and student life across campus.
“Ultimately [the courts are] a big contributor towards student life because it’s providing students with the ability to come back [to campus] for reasons aside from academics,” said Popovic.
“Ultimately [the courts are] a big contributor towards student life because it’s providing students with the ability to come back [to campus] for reasons aside from academics,” said Popovic.
Jovan Popovic, president, McMaster Students Union
In his report on Jun. 18, Popovic explained that his two goals with the volleyball court revival were the recovery of the wasted student life money and the construction of new replacement facilities for those that were taken away from students.
“What this project was about was recovering what was lost. Hopefully this acts as a gateway for greater things, but ultimately this was the easiest and fastest way to get something done and to get it done in a timely manner,” said Popovic.
“What this project was about was recovering what was lost. Hopefully this acts as a gateway for greater things, but ultimately this was the easiest and fastest way to get something done and to get it done in a timely manner,”
Jovan Popovic, president, McMaster Students Union
Popovic also indicated that he would be advocating for a new tennis and basketball court to be built on the Oval. Other potential additions to this space could include green garden spaces and communal areas for both off-campus and residential students.
