INDIANAPOLIS - Looking to wash the taste of an early season loss, the Marian volleyball team answered the call Wednesday night, claiming a thrilling five-set victory over (RV) Bethel University. The win improves Marian to 21-3 overall on the season and 13-3 in league play, as they remain in the hunt for the Crossroads League Championship.
Marian jumped out to a good start in the opening set, working their offense through four different hitters as they gained a 10-7 lead over the Pilots. Skyler Van Note and Madison Brooks helped pace the charge, as a 3-0 run helped the lead shoot to six and force a Bethel timeout. After the stoppage Bethel found a rhythm with Rachel Vendl serving, going on a 7-0 run after the side out to take control of the set. Marian would only get within one as the set came to it's conclusion, with Marian dropping the first game 25-19.
Ainsley Neighbors gave Marian an early jolt of life in the second set, helping her team take a 5-1 lead as she went on a 5-0 serving run. Van Note stayed involved on offense and defense as she and Jaymison Summers combined for a block to score the 10th point, and Grace Hunter kept the flow going as two kills helped push the lead to five. A 4-0 Bethel run would allow the Pilots to inch closer, but Van Note put an end to the spree with four kills in five rallies, putting the Knights in the driver's seat as they won 25-18 in the second.
In the third set, Marian and Bethel battled as the lead traded sides through 16 rallies. After a Marian service error tied the set at 8-8, the Knights got a sideout with a Van Note and Summers block, sparking a 4-0 as Katie Hardegree found Brooks three times in the run to force a timeout. Brooks and Jai-Lyn Norwood helped push the lead to five, and after establishing a 20-15 lead, Marian closed on a 5-4 spurt to get the 25-19 win and take a 2-1 lead.
Marian was unable to ride their momentum and close the match in four sets, as Bethel found another gear in the fourth. The Pilots scored the first three points, and were able to quickly build a six-point lead over the Knights. Van Note and Brooks tried to rally the team and brought the deficit within three, but another Pilot run was too much for Marian to keep up with. The Knights fell behind by double digits for the first time in a set in two weeks, and despite a late push lost 25-16.
With the match knotted at two sets a piece, Marian saved their final spurt of energy for the fifth set, and had to fight to take a lead. Bethel threw the counter back at Marian after they took a 3-2 lead to go on top by one, but one block changed the momentum of the match. Summers and Brooks teamed up for a rejection, and ignited a 5-0 run, as they took an 8-4 lead after switching sides. Marian was able to stay in control despite Bethel finding a way to get within two, as Norwood drove a kill to bring match point. On the final rally of the night, Summers and Norwood combined for a block on Cheyanne Seymour, giving Marian the 15-11 victory as they won the five-set battle.
Marian hit just .201 in the match, but found a way to get the win as Brooks, Van Note, and Norwood all reached double-figure kills. Brooks led the team with a career-high 17 kills while hitting .400, and Van Note had 16 kills and 12 digs for a double-double. Norwood finished with 12 kills, getting her lone block on the final rally of the game. Neighbors led the team with 25 assists while Hardegree had 24, adding eight digs. Gianna Feld had 21 digs and one of Marian's 10 service aces in the win, and Summers led the Knights with seven total blocks.
The challenge to stay in the Crossroads League race increases for the Knights on Friday night, as Marian will take on No. 19 Indiana Wesleyan in the PE Center at 7 p.m.
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