INDIANAPOLIS - Despite falling behind two sets to none, the Marian volleyball team put up a fight against the regular season Crossroads League Champions, but were unable to string together a fifth set win as the Knights fell in five to Taylor University Saturday afternoon. Marian ends the regular season with a 13-5 record in Crossroads League play, and is 21-5 overall entering the postseason.
Marian came out flat against the Trojans in each of the first two sets, losing 25-18 and 25-14. Taylor took an early lead in each set, with the first set opening on a 10-4 Trojan run. Marian rallied despite falling behind by as many as 10, getting blocks from Jaymison Summers and Skyler Van Note, but were unable to overcome their deficit in the opening game. Marian started stronger in the second set sitting behind by two points through 18 rallies, but a 4-0 Taylor run was the difference as the Trojans ran away with an 11-point second set win.
The Knights showed fire in the third set trailing 0-2, playing strong defense while Taylor committed four errors. A kill from Summers and solo block from Madison Brooks allowed Marian to keep the pace, and a 4-0 run paced by a Grace Hunter and Van Note spike made Taylor use a timeout. A block and a Trojan error extended the run to six straight points as Marian pushed ahead 16-12, making Taylor use their final timeout leading 20-15 after a Jai-Lyn Norwood kill. Sydney Schaffer landed a service ace after the break, helping Marian go on to win the third set 25-19.
Looking to keep the match going, the Knights pounced on Taylor early in the fourth set, taking an early 9-3 lead. Van Note and Averi Lanman had two blocks in the strong start, while the senior landed two kills and a service ace. The lead would get whittled down to three points, but Marian stayed strong as Van Note kept the attack going. After Marian used a timeout leading 14-12, Van Note and Gianna Feld helped get three points back, and pushed the lead to five. A Summers solo block gave Marian an eight-point lead in the closing moments, as Brooks put away the winning point in the set.
After getting the 25-19 win the match moved to the five set, sending Marian to their third full match of the week. Fatigue showed early as Taylor opened the final game on a 6-0 run, doing so through a timeout. Van Note would finally get Marian on the board, and Summers helped inch the team back within four, but a kill from Anna Frey halted the momentum. The Knights would stay within three or four points, but eventually dropped behind by six points, running out of steam as they lost the set 15-8.
Marian's loss was their second to Taylor this season, marking the first time since 2016 the Trojans recorded a season sweep. Marian had 49 kills in the match, and were led on offense by Van Note who had 14 to go with 13 digs. Norwood added 10 kills and Brooks had eight. Van Note and Summers led the team with four blocks each, and Feld had two of the five service aces. Katie Hardegree posted 20 assists in the defeat.
The Knights' loss drops Marian to the third seed in the Crossroads League Tournament, as they will host the Quarterfinal round next Saturday. Marian will play either Huntington or St. Francis on Saturday November 5, pending the tiebreakers between the two schools. First serve is at 5 p.m. and will be aired on the ISC Sports Network.
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