The York University Lions women's volleyball team faced a tough opponent in the OUA quarter-finals on Saturday and was defeated in straight sets by the No. 8 nationally-ranked McMaster Marauders at Burridge Gymnasium in Hamilton, Ont.
 
The Marauders made quick work of the Lions in the opening set, scoring five of the first six points en route to a dominant 25-6 score.
 
The Marauders carried that momentum into the first part of the second set before the Lions finally found their groove and starting stringing together points. The visitors trailed by just one, at 16-15, at the technical timeout and was tied with McMaster at 22-22, but the Marauders scored the last three points of the set to make it 25-22 and pull ahead 2-0.
 
The Lions trailed 16-11 at the technical timeout in the third set but then mounted a rally, pulling ahead by as much as three at 21-18. They held a set point at 24-22 but McMaster bounced back to level the set at 24-24. The Lions had three more set points from that point but the Marauders equalled the score each time and then eventually sealed the match by taking it 29-27.
 
Sarah Williams (Oakville, Ont.) led the way for the Lions with nine points on seven kills and two service aces. Fifth-year setter Kirsten Dillon (Surrey, B.C.), playing in the final match of her career, ended with 21 assists while fellow graduating senior Carley Flemmer (Delta, B.C.) led all Lions with 13 digs.
 
McMaster's leading scorer on the afternoon was Maicee Sorensen, who finished with 15 points on five kills, six service aces and four blocks.
 
The Lions' season is now over, while the Marauders will travel to the University of Toronto next weekend for the OUA Final Four Championships,  where they will face the Ryerson Rams in the semifinals.