Banner Season: Brock, McMaster renew rivalry as Badgers eye fourth straight Quigley Cup title

Burlington, Ont. – It’s back to familiar territory for the Brock Badgers, who will compete for their fourth consecutive Quigley Cup to close out the OUA women’s volleyball season. And much like they did when seeking their third straight conference title a year ago, they will go up against the McMaster Marauders with the iconic trophy on the line.

Winning a fourth straight title would put the team in rare company, as the feat hasn’t been accomplished since the Toronto Varsity Blues capped off their four-peat in 2003-04.

If Brock wants to add to the OUA history books, however, they will need do so without a couple of key pieces of those past Quigley Cup runs, but the team does still boast plenty of top tier talent to turn to come game time.

Leading the way for Brock this year has been first-team standout Sadie Dick. The local senior has been the heart and soul of the Badgers and it shows after every point. While much of that celebration comes in support of her teammates’ triumphs, her personal impact on the scoresheet is among the best in the province as well.

The child and youth studies major finished in the OUA’s top-10 in points (255.5), kills (210), and hitting percentage (.268). As one of the main focal points of the Brock offence, the three-time defending champions will look to the veteran for similar production in the banner season finale, much like she provided when the teams met a year ago.

To close out the OUA campaign in 2023-24, the two teams faced off in a tough four-setter at Bob Davis Gymnasium. And while Brock dropped the opening set, a team-high 18.5 points from Dick helped propel them to the victory.

McMaster was led in that one with a game-high 19.5 points from Sullie Sundara, a veteran outside hitter who will be a similar focal point for the Marauders in the finale.

The decorated senior has been a threat for McMaster throughout her tenure with the team and has piled on the accolades throughout her varsity career. The three-time OUA first team all-star recently reached the 1,000-point plateau and despite being limited to just 12 appearances this regular season, she remained a productive presence for the maroon machine. The Kanata, Ont. product collected 3.21 kills per set to help her amass an average of 3.8 points per set, but has taken it up another level during the postseason.

As part of McMaster’s two playoff wins over Waterloo and Toronto, respectively, Sundara has a combined 46 points (5.8 per set) and 38 kills (4.75 per set), which has her pacing her playoff counterparts thus far.

The banner season finale will mark the first time Sundara suits up against Brock this year, as she was sidelined for the teams’ previous two meetings in November. In those matches, 3-1 and 3-0 victories for Brock, respectively, Olivia Julien and first-time all-star Emma McKinnon (2.7 points per set, 2.33 kills per set, and 2.13 digs per set in 2024-25) anchored the McMaster attack, while third team all-star Emily Foest played a leading role offensively for the victors.

Another key facet of the Brock offence in those head-to-head contests, and all season long, was the play of Mackenna Knox.

After taking over from reigning OUA athlete of the year Sara Rohr, the team’s new starting setter has kept the offence firing on all cylinders this season. The second team all-star from Burlington, Ont. notched an OUA-best 10.10 assists per set in her sophomore year, and that potent play has pressed on into the playoffs.

Knox hasn’t shied away from the high-pressure situations in her team’s quest for a four-peat, as she has continued to lead the conference (11.00 assists per set) across Brock’s two wins over Nipissing and Windsor, respectively.

Much like Brock has had to turn to Knox and some other new faces this year, McMaster has had to do the same, but backed by their 14 wins and comfortable statistical ranks within the conference, they have made their way right back to the championship stage, nonetheless.

“After graduating four starters last year, our young players have worked extremely hard to compete at this level and our veterans have fully embraced a team-first attitude,” said McMaster head coach Nathan Janzen.

The visiting squad for Friday night’s Quigley Cup finale will need to maintain their team-first mantra and uphold that maximum compete level against a vaunted Badgers offence that ranked first in the OUA in kills (933), hitting percentage (.238), assists (859), and points (1251) en route to their 16-4 regular season mark.

But with only three set wins standing in the way of one of the Marauders or Badgers hoisting the Quigley Cup trophy, all it comes down to is which side will step up once that first point gets underway at Bob Davis Gymnasium.