By: Griffin Marsh
The McMaster women’s volleyball team, the reigning Ontario University Athletics champions, suffered a disappointing upset to the Ryerson Rams at home on Oct. 27, an unexpected start to a season that is full of hope, leadership and potential.
Coming into the 2017-2018 U Sports season home opener, the Marauders were riding high, initially ranked No. 4 in the country. The team was also coming off of a preseason tune-up in Ottawa at the end of September that saw the Marauders take all five possible victories.
The story on Friday night did not follow the same tune as the Marauders handled the first two sets, but quickly let the next three sets slip away, culminating in a 15-7 loss in the decisive fifth set.
This was McMaster’s first loss to Ryerson since Nov. 2014 and came as a complete surprise to most involved.
“It initially felt very good to be back underway, but unfortunately the game did not go the way we have liked it to,” said Maicee Sorensen, a fifth-year middle and one of the team’s captains. “We did not play the game we wanted to. Ryerson outplayed us, and they deserved the win. I am not happy about it, but again we will use this first game as inspiration to work harder and better for the next one.”
"We have a strong core group of players that have the skill and mindset that will bring us right to the end of the season and ultimately the U Sport championship at Laval.”
Carly Heath
Women's Volleyball Team
It should be noted that Sorensen was a real bright spot for the Marauders against the Rams, notching 21 kills and a kill percentage of .750, easily the most efficient of any player on the floor. While the Marauders may have been outplayed on Friday, this does not seem to be an expected trend moving forward.
The Marauders carry four players on the roster who are heading into their final year of eligibility, and coming off an OUA championship and U Sports National Championship appearance last season, this team is battle tested. One of those players in her final year, along with Sorensen, is libero Carly Heath, who is excited about a lot of the upcoming season.
“We have a strong core group of players that I think have the skill and mindset that will bring us right to the end of the season and ultimately the U Sport championship at Laval in March,” said Heath.
For Heath, another key excitement is the opportunity to finish her time as a Marauder with the same women she started with four years prior.
“We’ve been through a mix of different teammates and wins and losses in the past four seasons together,” recalled Heath. “I’m super excited to end out my McMaster career here with these same girls that I came in with.”
When thinking about larger goals for this season, the message seemed to be reaffirmed by both Heath and Sorensen: a message centred on winning.
“We need to be better than the year before,” began Sorenson. She added, “This year is a little different in my head though. It is my fifth and final year, and we are coming off of a championship year so the expectations are quite high.”
While the expectations are high for this season, the Marauders boasted a packed preseason, playing nine games in a little over two weeks during September. While this may seem to be a burden for a lot of teams, Heath argued that it is key in allowing for routines and systems to be established.
“We had some time to get back into things and get more used to playing with some new members,” Heath said of the preseason. “Building off of what we learned in those preseason games and practices will be important in our actual league play to focus on what we need to do to be successful together.”
While Friday may have been an unexpected speed bump in the road for the Mac women, there is much to be excited about moving forward.
This roster is deep from top to bottom, boasting both new talent and veteran staff. Much of this team also knows what is needed and expected of in a grueling U Sports season, losing only two players to graduation last season.
Up next for the Marauders is the Waterloo Warriors in our own Burridge Gym, on Friday Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.
Don’t start stress eating your Halloween candy yet, volleyball fans. This team knows what is needed, and has proven it can adjust in the past. This season is fresh and there is a lot to look forward to.
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The season for the McMaster women’s volleyball team came to an abrupt end at the U Sports national championships on March 17 – 19. Despite entering the tournament as the number two seed as the winners of the Ontario University Athletics conference, the Marauders were quickly bounced out of the quarter-final by Trinity Western Spartans from Canada West in straight sets. The Spartans would ultimately win the bronze medal game over Montreal.
“We were facing a highly motivated team, who was fully prepared and very eager,” head coach Tim Louks said of Mac’s loss against Trinity Western. “Our preparation was reasonable, but it was trying to play out our game plan that was hard. [Trinity Western] have a versatile offence, and have tall blockers, which is similar across teams from the Canada West conference.”
All three teams coming from Canada West finished in the top three in the U Sports championship, with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds avenging their Canada West finals loss by beating the Alberta Pandas in four sets to capture their 11th national championship. With all three OUA teams failing to finish in the top five at nationals, there is an apparent gap in the competition at the national level.
“The volleyball IQ in Ontario is not the same as it is out west,” Louks said after the national championships. “They are much more prepared to begin their journey. Some of the kids will sit out a couple of years because they are deep in talent… we are validated amongst the best in Ontario, but we cannot do so at the U Sports level. Toronto won nationals last year, but we were unable to replicate that type of play.”
"I applaud the effort and characteristics of what sports bring out; determination, perseverance and resolve. To watch it unfold in person was pretty impressive."
Tim Louks
Head coach,
McMaster women's volleyball
Mac’s season ended one day later on March 18, where they were unable to replicate their OUA final performance against Western, ultimately losing in four sets to the Mustangs. Fifth-year middle Alicia Jack and third-year outside hitter Aleks Arsovic each led the Marauders with 11 points in the effort, while fourth-year middle Maicee Sorensen contributed 10 points of her own.
“Not a lot of changes were needed going into that game against Western,” Louks said. “Their serve was tougher, and that kept us off balance early. They made us run around more and played with more resolve than we did.”
Mac’s loss against the Mustangs marked the third straight trip to nationals where the Marauders were unable to win a single match, finishing seventh/eighth for the third consecutive time. Despite this, the women’s volleyball team accomplished a lot this season, having finished first in the OUA West division and winners of the OUA championship on March 11 at the University of Toronto.
“I was proud of our resolve throughout the season, to collaborate and trust each other to stay on track,” Louks said. “I applaud the effort and characteristics of what sports bring out; determination, perseverance and resolve. To watch it unfold in person was pretty impressive.”
McMaster’s gradual development to becoming a top team in the OUA has been pushed along by the players’ development outside of university volleyball. As the offseason begins, many Mac players go on to play provincially and nationally, where they can improve their volleyball skills and increase their palate, to the point that it helps expand the program even more. Even with the progress the team has made, Louks stresses the importance of continuously moving forward.
“In order to get better every year, you are required to view the work under constant scrutiny,” Louks said. “We have to ask ourselves ‘how do we raise the bar? Is our offseason competition good enough? Is our support of sending players to nationals good enough? Is our scouting and recruitment deep enough?’ There is a lot pressure on the players as student athletes, and they have shown their resolve by consistently playing at a top level while succeeding academically.”
The end of the season also marks the end of the careers of Alicia Jack and outside-hitter Rebecca Steckle, both of whom have completed their five year eligibility. The team will retain OUA West First Team All-Stars Maicee Sorensen and Joanna Jedrzejewska for next year, along with Aleks Arsovic, libero Carly Heath and setter Caitlin Genovy for next season.
After defeating the Western Mustangs in five sets in the Ontario University Athletics championship, the McMaster women’s volleyball team will now head to the U Sports national championship from March 17-19, hosted by the Ryerson University.
As the winners of the OUA conference, Mac was rewarded with the number two seed in the tournament, and will play the Trinity Western Spartans in the opening quarterfinal match on March 17. The Spartans qualified for the tournament as the winner of the Canada West bronze medal match, defeating the University of British Columbia Okanagan in three sets.
“We are ready and excited to go [to nationals],” said fifth-year outside hitter Rebecca Steckle. “This is just the beginning of a hard, long road, but we are excited and it only gets better from here.”
Coming off of her Player of the Game performance, fourth-year outside hitter and OUA West First-Team All Star Joanna Jedrzejewska has expectations for herself and the team heading into nationals.
“I just want to show people around Canada that short people can do really well,” said Jedrzejewska, who stands at 5’7”. “I want to stand out, but at the same time I want to be a good influence on my team. I want to keep being a good team member. I don’t want to bring them down, I want to keep the positive energy and cohesion, and I just want to make my teammates better than when I found them.”
Even as the number two seed, their first matchup against Trinity Force will be tough. Coming from the Canada West conference, the Spartans have faced tough competition just to earn a spot at nationals. They are joined by the champions of the Canada West and the number one seeded Alberta Pandas, and by the third seeded University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. The Spartans have a history of success at the national tournament, finishing second in last year’s tournament and winning it all in 2015.
Nevertheless, the Marauders’ tough win over the Mustangs has fourth-year middle Maicee Sorensen ready for her and the rest of the team to give it their all come nationals.
“I have really high expectations for this team right now,” Sorensen said. “We want to get everything we can out of this season. We have been playing all year not to just get to nationals, but to actually do something with our national berth. We’re back now, we’re older and much more experienced, I really think we can do something with this talent.”
For the third time in school history, the McMaster women’s volleyball team are the champions of Ontario. This win may stand above the rest.
Mac put together an all-time performance, beating the Western University Mustangs 3-2 for their first Ontario University Athletics banner since 2014.
“There are a lot of emotions right now,” head coach Tim Louks said after the win. “Relief for sure. I think we treated everyone to something special tonight.”
The championship match had everyone in the Goldring Centre at the University of Toronto on the edge of their seats. Mac was able to closed out the fifth set in dramatic fashion. Having won the first two sets before dropping the last two, the Marauders won the match by putting together a three-point run, capping the win with an emphatic double block.
“It feels surreal,” said fifth-year outside hitter Rebecca Steckle. “We wanted it, and when you’re up two sets, you know that it just gets harder. Going into the fifth [set], we knew we had to play our best. It feels like the best thing, finishing off fifth year coming back and wanting it so bad and then getting it after a crazy match.”
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The intensity both teams brought into the game was on display from the very beginning. For every kill the Marauders scored, the Mustangs countered with a block. For every run Mac went on, Western was able to claw back. Every set was competitive, with all but the second being decided by two points.
The Marauders hit the ground running in both of the first two sets, grabbing early leads to force Western timeouts. The Mustangs would rally, but Mac was in the driver’s seat, winning a 2-0 lead with a 28-26 and 25-18 wins in the first and second sets respectively.
“After those two sets at the beginning that we won, we were feeling confident,” said Jedrzejewska.
The third set brought in two major adjustments that would be crucial to the Mustang comeback. OUA West Rookie of the Year and outside hitter Melissa Langegger was largely replaced by middle Danielle Grasman and Veltman moved to the outside-hitter position.
Despite the moves, Mac held an early 16-10 advantage. Western found a new defensive gear following the technical, frustrating Mac hitters with blocks and digs. After trading points and some long rallies, Western managed to break free and win the set 27-25.
The fourth set saw the intensity hit a new level. Aleks Arsovic received a red card following a verbal altercation, and Mac struggled to pull away. Western closed out the ugly, error-ridden set 25-23, teeing up a fifth set for the OUA championship.
“When we have a lead, we have to get better at keeping that lead,” fourth-year middle Maicee Sorensen said. “Throughout this whole game, it felt like in every set where were up. Right at the time of the technical timeout, Western had either caught up or caught up right after the technical [timeout]. We have a really strong start, but we need to figure out how to finish that off.”
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The final set of the OUA championship final was about as close as it could get. With both teams running on pure adrenaline at this point, it wasn’t until after the teams switched sides where Mac was able to create a larger lead. A crucial block by Mac’s Alicia Jack onto Veltman drew a timeout from the Mustangs, with the score 12-8 in Mac’s favor. With the score at 13-10, Jedrzejewska came up huge with a signature ace to bring Mac within one point of winning OUA gold.
Western faced a 13-10 deficit, but they rallied on the back of unforced Marauder errors to capture a 15-14 advantage. Backs against the wall, the Marauders pulled together instead of falling apart.
“I kept saying every time they got a point, I was fine, one more point, one more point,” Jedrzejewska said. “But the moment they had that point lead, it was a moment where you kind of doubt it, but you know that if you do doubt it, then you let them win. You have already defeated yourself, which is their goal. I was a little on the edge but I knew we were going to get it in the end. We’re strong out there, and we didn’t let them get to our heads.”
In that last point where Western took the lead, the Marauders suffered a heavy blow with rookie middle Kamila Haase, who had replaced Jack midway through the fifth set, going down with an apparent knee injury after going up for an attempted block.
The extra time in between points because of the unfortunate injury may have disrupted the Mustang momentum. With the game on the line and the ball in the hands of the OUA West Player of the Year, Veltman mishit the ball out of bounds, evening the score and giving the Marauders back the ball. It was the fourth serving error made by Veltman all night, and the biggest of 12 total serving errors made by the Mustangs throughout the match.
With Alicia Jack set to serve, all eyes were on the duo of Veltman and setter Tsiofas. Thanks to great blocking from Steckle, the Mustangs made yet another unforced error, and had the Marauders up 16-15, with a fifth chance of winning the match. Rather than going to Veltman on the pass, Tsiofas opted instead to go to outside hitter Aja Gyimah, who up to that point had registered 16 kills in the match.
But she could not come up with number 17, as both Sorensen and Arsovic soared to the net for the block. The Mustangs, who were outstanding at extending points throughout the match, had no chance to recover. The ball found its way to the floor, and McMaster found themselves OUA champions.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="51" gal_title="Champ Vball 3"]
“I felt very proud after that fifth set,” Jedrzejewska said. “We had a lot of character coming from on and off the bench, so it’s good that everyone contributed. We were pushed to the brink and we kept out character. All year we struggled with finishing off games, and even when we struggled towards the end, we pushed through. I’m proud that we didn’t let them get to our heads. I’m exhausted, but happy that we got the win.”
The Marauders look ahead to the U Sports national championship as the second seed. Ryerson is hosting the tournament and Mac plays Trinity Western University in the quarterfinal on March 17 at noon.
In sports, experience tends to trump ability come playoff time. Luckily for maroon and grey fans, the McMaster women’s volleyball team has both.
A team filled with seniors who have seen it all, Mac is in a great position to qualify for the U Sports championships. Defined by their veteran leadership, the Marauder women know the value of playoff experience from previous campaigns, with their starting lineup consisting entirely of fourth and fifth-year players.
“Everyone was excited and was carrying a bit more adrenaline than usual,” said fourth-year middle Maicee Sorensen after their quarter-final game against York. “Having an experienced starting lineup allowed us to use the emotion to better our game.”
Entering the playoffs as the number two seed in the Ontario University Athletics playoffs, the Marauders started their path to nationals on March 4 with a three-set sweep over the York Lions. After dispatching York in the first set with ease, the Lions were able to make the second and third sets more competitive, but Mac held strong and closed out the match.
Mac's win against Ryerson sparked a six-game winning streak to close out the regular season, which propelled them past the Western Mustangs to capture first place in the OUA West division.
Winning in volleyball is easier when you can get uncontested points, which has been a strong suit of the women’s team this year. During the regular season, the Marauders ranked number one in the OUA in total aces (184), and rank second in the country in aces per set (2.63). It helps when the top two servers in the OUA – Sorensen and Joanna Jedrzejewska – are on your team. Sorensen led the way with six aces, while Jedrzejewska served five and Alicia Jack contributed four in the match. The Marauders ended the game with 20 total aces, compared to York’s four.
“We were at home in our own gym,” Sorensen said. “We took advantage of our serving capabilities and being home in Burridge Gym made us even more comfortable.”
A consistent presence in the middle during the season, Sorensen stymied York’s offence. Recording six of Mac’s eight blocks on the night, Sorensen’s play up front helped the Marauders disrupt any offensive flow the Lions attempted to muster up.
“We worked very hard this week prepping through video and studying York’s offensive tendencies,” Sorensen said. “Through film and discussions about each hitter, we were able to make small yet effective adjustments to better our block.”
Following their win against the Lions, the women have earned their spot to the OUA Final Four once again, and will travel to Toronto for a chance to qualify for the U Sports championship. Before giving a single thought about nationals however, Mac has its focus on the upcoming Final Four weekend, which kicks off with semifinal action against the U Sports championship hosts, the Ryerson Rams, on March 10.
“Headed into Final Four next weekend is something our team has been looking forward to all year,” Sorensen said. “We have high expectations for each other and we work hard trying to hold each other accountable. We know we have the capability to win, and that confidence is going to make a big mental difference next weekend.”
One win during the Final Four weekend will punch a ticket for Mac to the U Sports championship.
The Marauders faced the Rams once this season, and their four set win was defining for two reasons. First, it came off the heels of a loss to Toronto in a five-set thriller that saw Mac take the undefeated Blues to their limit. It also sparked a six-game winning streak to close out the season, which helped Mac surpass the Western Mustangs to capture first place in the OUA West division.
In the other semi-final, the Mustangs will face Toronto, who ranks as the top team in the country. The winners of each semifinal will face each other in the final on March 11, while the losers will battle it out in the consolation final.
Given that Ryerson are the hosts for the U Sports championships, the magic number for the Marauders is one. One win during the Final Four weekend will punch a ticket for Mac to the U Sports championship. If they happen to fall to the Rams in the semifinal, a win in the consolation final on March 11 will still qualify the Marauders for the national tournament. Of course, a semifinal win would give the Marauders a higher seed in the U Sports championships.
“We are more focused now than we have been all year,” Sorensen said. “It’s this focus and desire that we will thrive off as a whole in the tough moments coming soon.”
A tough schedule indeed, but nothing these veterans have not seen before.
It is that time of the year again. As schoolwork ramps up for students, so too does the competition come playoff time. With a three set sweep over the Royal Military College of Canada coupled with a Western loss over the weekend, the McMaster women’s volleyball team managed to capture first place in the Ontario University Athletics West division.
Already guaranteed a top-two seed heading into the final game of the regular season, head coach Tim Louks decided to give his senior players some rest, allowing the younger players to step into their shoes. One player who took advantage of the opportunity was second-year hitter Rachel Woock, who led the team with ten points in the sweep over RMC, and didn’t let the extra playing time get to her nerves.
"I would describe our team's atmosphere as very excited and determined. We've put ourselves in the best possible situation to get through the playoffs."
Rachel Woock
Second-year
McMaster women's volleyball
“It was really exciting for me that I got to play a lot in the game against RMC,” Woock said. “I wasn’t nervous because I’ve made a lot of entrances into games off the bench this season, which prepared me pretty well for the bigger role on Saturday.”
The Marauders finished the season 16-3 and head into the OUA playoffs as the second overall seed and rank eighth in the U Sports top ten rankings. The only OUA team ranked ahead of the Marauders is the undefeated Toronto Varsity Blues, who posted a 19-0 regular season record and rank as the number one team in the country. A higher seed typically correlates to an easier path through the playoffs, and a better opportunity to advance to the U Sports Championships, which will take place at Ryerson University from March 17 – 19.
“I would describe our team’s atmosphere as very excited and determined,” Woock said. “We’ve put ourselves in the best possible position to get through the playoffs. Everyone is ready to step up into whatever role they are needed in.”
The strength of the team comes from the shared leadership amongst the team, thanks in large part to the number of seniors on the team. Veterans such as Rebecca Steckle, Alicia Jack and Joanna Jedrzejewska have plenty of playoff experience, where the atmosphere tends to be tenser and there is more meaning behind every point made or missed.
“I think that come playoff time, Rebecca Steckle will make a huge impact on the court,” Woock said. “Although she is playing with an injury, her experience as a fifth-year player and her calm presence on the court will be a big factor for us in the most important part of the season.”
Two other players to look for come postseason play are fourth-year libero Carly Heath and fourth-year setter Caitlin Genovy. As the libero, Heath has been a playmaker for the Marauders on defence, finishing second overall in the OUA in digs (317) and digs per set (4.80). As the competition ramps up and the hits get harder, fans should pay attention to Heath’s defensive presence. Meanwhile, Genovy finished third in the OUA in assists per set (8.82), and will be a huge factor in getting hitters such as Steckle and Jedrzejewska into the mix early and often.
The Marauders begin their playoff campaign on March 4 at 1 p.m., where they will host the OUA seventh-seeded York Lions. The Lions finished the season with a 10-9 record in the OUA East division. In their lone regular season matchup on Nov. 5, the Marauders dispatched the Lions in straight sets, with Jedrzejewska and Steckle leading the way with 11 kills each.
Playoff matches tend to be unpredictable; with more adrenaline and intensity in the air, the room for error for both teams is a lot smaller than usual. But as a team made up of savvy veterans and tremendous depth, the Marauders are ready to embark on a deep playoff run.
By: Camila Stupecka
Born and raised in Hamilton, fourth-year outside hitter Joanna Jedrzejewska shines on the court with her motivating attitude and impressive volleyball skill. But like anything, the spark has to start somewhere small.
Jedrzejewska, along with her brother, fourth-year libero Pawel, have always played competitively in a variety of sports. Her passion for volleyball was first inspired by watching her older brother, Marcin.
“We would go to Marcin’s practices in our spare time and just watch,” Jedrzejewska said. “When they would go for water breaks, Pawel and I would play on the side. We admired the athleticism it took to play volleyball.”
At the age of 13, Jedrzejewska started playing in competitive leagues, taking her passion for the sport and putting it into practice. Living with her three brothers, who all played volleyball, gave her the competitive edge and the mental toughness she needed to excel in these leagues. As the years went on, her passion grew into a serious interest. Shortly after, McMaster became her next goal.
Jedrzejewska’s mission began with a message sent to head coach Tim Louks, asking about a position on the team. Unfortunately, the team was full and they weren’t looking for any more players. Louks still went out to see her on the court and was happily surprised. He saw the potential in her and granted Jedrzejewska a spot on the team. But that didn’t mean the fight was over quite yet.
Her 5'7" height, which may be seen as a disadvantage to some volleyball players, only motivated her to work harder.
“The transition was hard because I was so used to starting on a competitive team and when I came to [McMaster], I was sitting on the bench pretty much my whole first season,” Jedrzejewska said. “[Even when head coach] Tim Louks would put me in, I was like ‘okay, this is my moment, if I want to start I have play well now.’ But for ten games in a row I would play really poorly and I would be taken off right away.”
The disappointment she felt after every game, knowing that she hadn’t been able to contribute to her team’s win, pushed her to keep working. Her 5’7” height, which may be seen as a disadvantage to some volleyball players only motivated her to work even harder, causing her to become one of the highest jumpers on the team.
“I had to earn my spot.” Jedrzejewska said. And she did.
It was the last home game of the season against the best team in the league at the time, the University of Ottawa. The Marauders were down two sets. For the first time since her start with the team, Jedrzejewska went in and played one of the best games of her life.
“I was getting all my kills, I was really efficient,” Jedrzejewska said. “And we ended up beating them three [sets] to two. And this was the number one team in Ontario at the time. I had proved myself.”
Since then, Jedrzejewska has shone on the court as a spectacular volleyball player and a positive leader for her teammates, even in challenging circumstances such as playing all of this season with a torn labrum. Rather than dwelling on misfortune, she has put her injury to good use.
“It taught me to fight through the pain,” she said. “And because I couldn’t hit as hard as I used to, it improved my mental IQ.”
“You have to make do with what you’ve got. In volleyball, in my position, you’re usually pretty tall. And I’m 5’ 7” and a half so it will be pretty tough to find someone who can give me a chance [at professional volleyball]. Tim gave me that chance and I proved myself. I just need someone to believe in me.”
Her mentality in overcoming challenges continues to make her resilient in the face of adversity, allowing her to use what she has to the best of her ability both on and off the court.
“It doesn’t matter about the size of the player in the game, but the game in the player,” said Jedrzejewska. “And my heart makes up for [the limitations]. I don’t give up.”
It is time for the McMaster women’s volleyball team to find their early-season groove.
Following their gold medal performance at the Thanksgiving Classic in October, the women’s volleyball team started the season undefeated before losing their last two games to the Western Mustangs (9-0) and the Guelph Gryphons (6-4).
Their hot start to the season came as no surprise. Starting the season ranked sixth in the University Sports top ten rankings and a number of fourth and fifth year veterans returning from last year’s campaign, the Marauders made quick work of their opponents, who up to this point in the season have a combined record of 22-36. Winning their first seven games of Ontario University Athletics conference play, the Marauders never gave up more than one set in each game, losing only a total of four sets in that span.
Up to that point, the team looked unstoppable in the OUA West, reaching No. 3 in the U Sports top ten rankings, behind only Alberta (12-0) and the OUA East division leaders Toronto (8-0). Things were looking up for the Marauders, until they suffered their first loss of the season on Nov. 26 to the Mustangs in London in their last game of the fall semester. Even though the Marauders were swept in three sets, the first two sets were decided by a combined seven points, showing that this team on their best day can compete with top level competition.
There are still 10 games left for the Marauders to fine-tune their game and set themselves up for success come postseason play.
Following the winter break, the Marauders travelled to Guelph on Jan. 14 to face the Gryphons, who they had previously defeated in the gold medal game of the Thanksgiving Classic and the opening game of the regular season. Unfortunately for Mac, they were unable to replicate their previous success, losing the match in four sets, the last two of which were decided by two points apiece.
This has the women’s team sitting second in the OUA West division, with a 7-2 record. As of Jan. 17, the team has dropped out of the U Sports top ten rankings entirely.
Their next game takes place on Jan. 21 at 6pm, where the Marauders host the visiting Mustangs, and will look to evenge their first defeat of the season. The next day, the Marauders will welcome the Windsor Lancers (3-5) to Burridge Gym, who currently sit fifth in the OUA West division.
While their start to the winter part of their schedule is not what they hoped for, there are still 10 games left for the Marauders to fine-tune their game and set themselves up for success come postseason play, and a return trip to the OUA Final Four.
You never think it will happen to you.
Alicia Jack. The natural talent, the quick learner, the 6’3 “brickhouse” at the net. The happy-go-lucky jokester with the easy smile and the knack for getting a laugh from her teammates. A fourth-year veteran. A starting middle on the McMaster women’s volleyball team. Until she wasn’t.
“When you get recruited, you think of the positive things”, said Jack. “The wins, the championships, the teammates you will meet. You never think of the losses, the injuries, [or] the setbacks.”
The first set – An unlikely rise
Alicia Jack wasn’t always skilled. Talented perhaps, but a lanky grade 11 student without volleyball experience. She did not find her way onto a local club team until she was 16, a whole decade after the volleyball elite typically start lacing up their shoes.
“I wasn’t a star by any means,” said Jack. “Queen’s was my top choice for university… I didn’t know volleyball at all. To this day I don’t know for sure but I think [my assistant coach] was the bird in Tim’s ear saying ‘I have this grade 12 and she isn’t very good at volleyball but you might be able to teach her a thing or two.”
Whatever he did say was just enough, and when Jack’s time in high school was up, the Marauders came calling. The local recruit would follow her assistant coach to Mac as the first ever player from her club to play for a varsity team.
When she arrived was a different story. Despite her size, some of Jack’s teammates had played in the Ontario University Athletics league for twice as long as she had been involved in the sport at all. Volleyball is a tactical game, and learning the nuances in strategy can take to years to master, time Jack did not have if she ever wanted to see the court.
“I remember my coach telling me I had to float serve, and I had no idea what that was,” said Jack. “I would just throw it up and try to get it over the net… I had a long way to go.”
Her learning curve was steep, but Jack worked through it. She trained relentlessly, learning the system under an experienced head coach in Tim Louks, who was intent on realizing her full potential. She improved consistently, and after an especially intense summer of third-year workouts, she was named a starter in her fourth season.
But six games into that season, almost one year ago, that everything changed.
The second set – The turning point
Nov. 20, 2015: The Mac women faced off with their OUA rivals the Western Mustangs in Burridge gym. Three sets in and the Marauders had stolen two tight wins from the Mustangs, with Jack posting four kills and two blocks on the night.
Mid-rally a tight ball pulled her to the net, the same place she had made her name since arriving at Mac. She jumped, she reached, and landed. But this time was different. Jack landed off balance on a twisted knee.
“I was lying on the ground rolling… and I remember the gym went pin-drop quiet,” said Jack. “That was the moment I knew something was wrong, I knew my season was done.”
Early tests were negative, but three weeks later an MRI revealed she had torn her ACL. She would need to undergo surgery to repair it, and any activity before then risked further damaging her knee.
“When I got that call... it was devastating,” said Jack. “I remember thinking, ‘I am never going to play again’.”
The third set – The long road back
By current guidelines, Jack would need a nine-month recovery at best. And with the earliest available date for surgery not until March, she might not be cleared to play until January of 2017. It would take something special to get Jack back on the court.
That is when things started started to shift. Pieces fell into place and a chance cancellation meant she could undergo surgery on Jan. 25, two months ahead of schedule. She would still have to go under the knife for the first time in her career and complete half a year of rehab, but she would not do it alone.
Two weeks after Alicia Jack, rugby player and reigning Canadian Interuniversity Sports player of the year Cindy Nelles sustained the same injury. She had captained the women’s rugby team to their first ever CIS title just months earlier and would go on to be named McMaster’s female athlete of the year.
Two weeks after Nelles, basketball star and national Cadette team member Vanessa Pickard tore her ACL in a game against Queen’s following a stunning victory in the Ryerson tournament a week earlier.
I was laying on the ground rolling... and I remember the gym went pin-drop quiet. That was the moment I knew something was wrong, I knew my season was done.
Alicia Jack
Middle blocker, McMaster women's volleyball team
Despite anchoring their teams and playing at the forefront of McMaster athletics, the three Marauders had never met. But chance timing and a stroke of luck meant injury would bring these three athletes together as teammates, fighting to return to their respective sports. And Jack was leading the pack.
“There are very few people I have ever met who work as hard as Jack,” said Pickard. “Throughout her entire rehab, she fully committed to the process and her determination to get back on the court has been inspirational. Her ability to motivate others has helped me more than I can put into words… There have been so many times where she has helped me refocus and reenergize after setbacks and I don’t think I could ever repay her for that.”
Yet the challenge of rehabbing would be unlike anything Jack had ever faced. Grueling, painful and notoriously slow, athletes across disciplines will testify to just how difficult the year the following surgery can be.
“As an athlete I play rugby,” said Nelles. “I’ve broken my hand, had surgery, sprained ankles and all the rest… It is nothing compared to an ACL rehab. Just to to see that commitment [from her] alone… volleyball players don’t typically see this type of long-term injury. For her to face that battle and not know everything she was getting into, it just shows her incredible mental strength… I am lucky to have Alicia Jack as a friend.”
Impressive or not, rehab was never easy. A self-described “perfectionist,” for the first time Jack was bound to the restrictions set for her by others, and surpassing limits could have serious consequences on her playing career.
“I kept thinking ‘I should be at this point, why aren’t I doing this,” said Jack. “They had to pull me back. I realized that I couldn’t celebrate perfection, I had to celebrate progress instead.”
Three days after her surgery, Jack was already bending her knee. By day four she had dropped her pain meds and by day 15 she had dropped her crutches as well and was walking without support. Two weeks later she was doing quarter squats and exercising on a stationary bike. Seven weeks in, she was in the pool, and by June, she went for her first run.
“We had a joke that she had a fake ‘placebo’ surgery,” said Nelles. “That they just put her unconscious and then said ‘oh yeah you’re all better’ without doing anything because she was always so far ahead of us. She was like our ‘rehab goals.”
With physical progress came a new mindset that would push Jack to the finish line of her recovery.
“I think I have taken for granted standing on the bench some days… you take for granted what you have, most people do. You always want something more,” said Jack. “If you are on the bench, then you want to be playing. But when you are on the sideline, you just want to be able to stand with [your team]… I was determined to do whatever it took to get back.”
For the next eight months, Jack spent two hours a day in the gym and four hours a week in physiotherapy. By July she was already matching weights with teammates. She was even in a hot yoga class before she had full range of motion, just trying to get that extra edge she needed. But come November, she had reached her goal. Alicia Jack was cleared to compete again.
The fourth set – The next chapter
Nov. 11, 2016: The women’s volleyball team travelled north to Lakehead for a double header. For the first time in over a year, Alicia dressed for the game. She wouldn’t be on the roster, but she would be back with her team on the bench.
“It was the highlight of my weekend,” said Jack. “Just putting the sneakers on was a huge ordeal for me, just having them back on and putting that jersey back on… it was a pretty emotional experience.”
They won that game handily in four sets to move to a perfect 4-0 record. The next day was a similar story, with Mac leading 23-14 in the second and about to close the set. That’s when Jack was handed the substation paddle. She was going into the game.
“I didn’t think I was even going to get into the game, [so when I did] my teammates said they have never seen me get so serious in my life,” said Jack. “I ended up going into the match for two points. I never touched the ball, but I have never had those emotions flying. I was nervous, I was ecstatic… I took Jill Eisenhauer out and she said I looked like I was going to cry.”
If you are on the bench, then you want to be playing. But when you are on the sideline, you just want to be able to stand with [your team].
Alicia Jack
Middle blocker, McMaster women's volleyball team
Since Lakehead, Alicia has played in two more games, including her first return to Burridge gym against Brock. Still getting back into the swing of playing, the steady stream of improvement won’t be stopping anytime soon, but for her it is simply having the opportunity that really matters.
“It is possible now, for me to go into a game,” said Jack. “I am back, I am officially able to play. It is just a matter of how I perform to get back on the court… but I am definitely not finished.”
The fifth set – Don’t call it a comeback
You might say that Alicia Jack came out of nowhere. That if you blinked once, you might miss her rise to stardom, or her stunning return to OUA volleyball. But pull back the curtain and you realize she has been here for years.
Quietly grinding in a high school gym to work her way onto a varsity squad. Studying the game until she became a starter who could read a hitter before their coach even gave the call. Fighting through the pain while a physiotherapist forced her knee back into a locked position.
Putting it all behind her to get back on the court
“It has motived me more,” said Jack. “I push myself more and harder and then I ever thought I could, mentally and physically. I am a better athlete, and a better person because of it.”
With that drive comes a newfound appreciation for the game.
“Putting on that jersey again I realized that each time you step on that court could be your last. Every game I play now; I know I want to give it my all. I never want to have any regrets.”
Alicia Jack. The compassionate leader, the rehab placebo, the friend. The longtime player with the instincts to beat you at the net and the bravery to overcome the experiences she has had there. A fifth-year veteran.
A middle blocker on the McMaster women’s volleyball team.
The women’s volleyball team continue to flex their muscles over the Ontario University Athletics competition, sweeping away the Lakehead Thunderwolves in their two-game series in Thunder Bay, ON.
The Marauder women showed poise in the first match on Nov. 11. After dropping the second set to Lakehead, the women came back swinging with dominating performances in the third and fourth set, eventually leading to a 3-1 victory over the Thunderwolves.
Fifth-year outside hitter Rebecca Steckle led the charge on Friday, posting 11 kills on 23 attempts to go along with a serving ace and nine digs. Setter Caitlin Genovy played a huge role in the victory, recording 34 assists while putting Steckle and fourth-year outside hitter Joanna Jedrzejewska with multiple opportunities to win big points for the Marauders.
The Marauders followed up their victory with a stellar performance on Nov. 12, sweeping Lakehead in three sets, not allowing their opposition to score more than 15 points in any set. Genovy, in her fourth year of eligibility, continued to be the core to the Marauder’s offensive success, tallying 31 assists on the evening.
With their sweep over Lakehead over the weekend, the women’s volleyball team continued their undefeated season and move to 5-0 on the season. The two victories also saw the team move up in the University Sports rankings, who now rank as the no. 4 team in the country behind Alberta, University of British Columbia, and fellow OUA team University of Toronto.
Head coach Tim Louks has been impressed with the strong start from the team, and points to the role players as an important factor to their fast start.
“The depth of our team is evident in the practice room,” Louks said, prior to the team’s trip to Thunder Bay. “If you can practice at a very high level, then you will compete with that expectation in matches. That will help us along the path for sure. The players have been outstanding in the process.”
Although the team has yet to face the toughest competition the OUA has to offer, beating teams ranked lower in the standings is just as important. Doing so marks a team as a consistent force in the league, one who takes each game one at a time and does not fall into a trap of overlooking the competition.
“Our season is extremely long and [at times] disjointed with stopping for exams and breaks,” Louks said. “Our ability to stay focused through distractions will assist in our desire to be among the best. We will train with good intelligence and energy.”
The success of the McMaster winter varsity teams has been impressive, and the women’s volleyball team has been no different. Even with their first true competition coming from Western (who is currently undefeated with a 5-0 record) on Nov. 26, the team will continue to take their season one set at a time, and learn from every match.
