Goshen, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team earned a complete team win on Wednesday night, bouncing back into the win column as they swept Goshen 3-0 to take the season series. Marian's win gives them an 18-3 overall record, while improving to 10-3 in league play.
The Knights looked to wash the taste of last Wednesday's upset loss at Huntington out of their mouths early, pouncing out to a quick 7-2 lead paced by four kills from four different players. A block from Alison Dreves and Jai-Lyn Norwood helped surge the Knights in front 10-4, as Ainsley Neighbors continued her service run with an ace and kill from Norwood to force a Goshen timeout. Marian continued to spike the ball, as Norwood and Skyler Van Note helped push the lead to double-digits, with Van Note dropping her fourth kill for the 20th Knight point. After Goshen's final timeout, Marian went on a 5-1 run, taking the opening game 25-10 on a Van Note service ace.
Marian trailed for just one point in the second set as Goshen scored two of the first three points, but a kill from Van Note got the visitors back on track as she scored two of the next four points. Marian's block went to work as Averi Lanman and Madison Brooks smothered the Maple Leaf attack, forcing a timeout with a 10-4 lead in pocket. Another block from the pair of tall inside players continued Marian's 8-0 run, with the difference surging to nine following a Grace Hunter kill. Leading 15-6 and aiming to take a 2-0 lead, the Knights closed on a 10-7 run paced by multiple Goshen errors, as the Knights rolled to a 25-13 victory.
Goshen showed an early fight in the third set as they traded points with Marian through 13 rallies, but a kill from Lanman and block from the junior and fellow classmate Sydney Henke helped snap the streak. Lanman's kill helped ignite a 6-0 run to give Marian distance in the set, while a late 5-0 run paced by three consecutive Van Note kills vaulted the lead to nine. With a comfortable 17-9 lead at hand in the third set, Marian worked through different hitters as Sarah Bennett and Henke got involved on the attack, while Maddie Ellis scored a kill to force set point. Van Note would polish off the set, closing the sweep with a 25-17 win.
Marian's offense returned to form in the win, hitting .349 as a team, recording 45 kills to just eight attack errors. Marian had seven service aces, and rejected 11 Maple Leaf attacks. Van Note had an all-around performance, leading all players with 19 kills and 12 digs, hitting .613 on the night as she did not record an error. The senior also had three service aces and one block assist, scoring 22.5 points in the win. Hunter and Brooks each had five kills in the win, and Gianna Feld had 10 digs on the night. Logan Smith led the team with 16 assists, and Katie Hardegree had 14 assists. Lanman had eight block assists in two sets of play.
The Knights will return home on Friday night, taking on Grace College at 7 p.m. in the PE Center.
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