Sioux City, Iowa - For the fourth time in five seasons, the Marian volleyball team has won their opening match in pool play at the NAIA National Tournament, as the Knights dropped top-seed Northwestern in four sets. Marian's win on Wednesday improves their overall record to 25-6 overall this season, as they start pool play 1-0.
The Knights fell behind schedule in the first set as Northwestern took off to a 7-3 lead with three aces, but a pair of Red Raider errors and a kill from Jai-Lyn Norwood helped Marian bring the set level. The Red Raiders would take off again as they used a 5-0 run to push their lead to five, but Marian stayed strong, getting kills from Norwood and Skyler Van Note. Trailing 16-13, the Knights continued to chip away as Van Note slammed three kills, while Sydney Henke and Madison Brooks rattled off kills. A block from Jaymison Summers and Henke tied the set at 21, and after Van Note took the lead with a kill, Marian went on a 3-1 run to take the game 25-22.
In the second set Marian jumped out in front early with a 6-3 lead, but were unable to hang onto their edge as the Raiders roared back with a 6-0 run. Despite a kill from Averi Lanman and Sydney Schaffer service ace, Marian was unable to stay in system, as Northwestern scored five unanswered to grow their lead to seven. The Knights continued to fight scoring four straight to force a timeout, but another spurt from the GPAC school allowed them to push their lead to five. Marian got within three points as they continued to fight, but couldn't overcome their deficit as they dropped the set 25-20.
Marian seized early control of the third set, using a 5-0 run paced by a pair of Norwood kills to take a 9-4 lead. Northwestern hung around after calling their first timeout of the game, but Marian stayed strong and held their lead at four points as the Red Raiders committed a trifecta of errors. The Knights were unable to keep their four-point lead clean, as Northwestern rallied to tie at 16-16, but couldn't capture the lead as Van Note helped guide a 3-0 run. Northwestern used a 3-0 run of their own to scratch within one, but Marian stood tall, with a Brooks and Lanman block to keep their lead. The sophomore Brooks and senior Norwood ended the game with consecutive kills, as Marian captured momentum with a 25-22 win.
Leading 2-1 entering the fourth set, Marian took control early as a pair of blocks and two Katie Hardegree service aces propeled them to a 7-2 lead. The Raiders cut into the lead after calling a timeout, but Marian stayed on top as they surged to a 13-7 advantage. The Raiders would make it a three point game, but after the Knights used a timeout, head coach Riley Anderson's squad surged back in front by four points. Marian's 17-10 lead turned into a 20-15 advantage as they inched closer to a win, but Northwestern had one last push as they brought the score to one. Coming out of a timeout, Norwood took over, scoring three kills in five rallies to get within two of the win. Henke and Summers finished off the win with back to back kills, as the Knights closed the upset with a 25-21 victory.
The Knights hit .211 in the win, and had a strong outing by hitting over .300 throughout the first two sets. Marian led Northwestern in kills, percentage, assists, and digs. Van Note dominated for Marian as the senior posted a 21-kill, 17-dig double-double, adding three service aces and a block assist to her night. Norwood had 14 kills in the win, and Henke and Brooks combined for 14. Henke had four blocks in the win, and Lanman led the team with five. Hardegree had a dominant game from her setter position, leading the team with 22 assists and 18 digs for a double-double, while Schaffer had 16 digs and Gianna Feld had 13. Ainsley Neighbors had an 18-assist, 13-dig double-double for Marian.
Marian's win gives them a 2-0 all-time record against Northwestern, both coming in the first game of the NAIA Tournament Pool Play.
Marian will play on Thursday afternoon against SAGU, meeting for the first time in school history at 5 p.m. EST.
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