McMaster in semifinal
Tough opponents lurk in national championship being hosted in Hamilton
McMaster’s volleyball team spent Friday evening proving it can deal with Huskies.
Now it’s going to have to show it can handle an even bigger problem. Or worse, the Bogeyman. After eliminating the University of Saskatchewan in straight sets in a national quarter-final match on home court — the nationals are being played at McMaster this weekend — they now face either the Montreal Carabins or the Trinity Western Spartans on Saturday at 6 p.m. in their quest for a first-ever Canadian title.
Those two sides played in Friday’s late match for the second spot in the semifinal match.
The former is the problem. The Carabins beat McMaster in three sets at the beginning of October. That was a long time ago but they’re really good. They’ll be a handful. The Bogeyman?
Let’s just say Trinity Western has been the Marauders’ kryptonite over the years. In 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the two sides met in either the national semifinal or final. Each time the match ended in maroon tears.
When McMaster fans have nightmares, the Spartans are usually in them.
For a change, TWU doesn’t come into a national tournament as the top-ranked team.
In fact, McMaster is ranked No. 2 in this event, a spot ahead of the six-time national champs.
So they might not seem quite as devastating as they have been in the past.
But think that at your peril. They’re still an absolute beast.
And with all this history, there may not be a bigger mental hurdle for the Marauders to overcome.
One thing the home side will have going for it is Burridge Gym. The place was wild in the best possible way on Friday night.
Thousands of energized fans — backed by dozens of former McMaster players who’d returned for legendary coach Dave Preston’s last stand before heading to Australia to take over as that country’s head coach — turned it into a party right from the opening serve.
Except this St. Patrick’s Day celebration was all about maroon, not green.
The other national semifinal goes at 8 p.m. pitting top-ranked Alberta (which beat Toronto in four sets) against Quebec champion Sherbrooke (which toppled Windsor in straight sets).
The championship game is Sunday at 6 p.m.