Marion, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team pulled out a thrilling five-set victory on Wednesday night in the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals, as the Knights reverse swept the second-seeded Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. Marian's 3-2 win over No. 18 Indiana Wesleyan improves their record to 23-5 on the year.
The opening two sets went to the Wildcats, as Marian had no answer to the combined Wildcat attack of Eva Joldersma and Victoria Johnson. Indiana Wesleyan used an early 6-0 run in the first set to take charge, but were unable to keep their margin as Skyler Van Note got involved in the Knight offense. Indiana Wesleyan was able to carry their lead back to five points after the charge by the Marian senior, and pushed the advantage to seven with a timeout called. The Wildcats finished their set one victory on a 5-3 spree, taking the 1-0 lead with the 25-16 game.
Marian was again unable to match Indiana Wesleyan in the second set, despite playing even through the first 16 rallies. A 5-0 run by the home team after the 8-8 tie allowed Indiana Wesleyan to pull in front, with the run extending to seven after a timeout. Marian was able to reach back within five on two separate occasions, put were unable to slow down Joldersma, as the IWU freshman kept the home team in front. Martina Demarchi capped a 5-1 closing run for the Wildcats, as Indiana Wesleyan took a 2-0 lead after the 25-15 win.
Trailing 0-2 in the match, Marian willed their way back into the night as they scored the first three points of the third set. Van Note helped pace the charge as Ainsley Neighbors connected with the All-American, while Madison Brooks and Jai-Lyn Norwood pushed the Marian total to 10. Indiana Wesleyan errors and Averi Lanman helped bring Marian to a 16-6 lead with a kill and a block, and after a timeout the lead stayed at double figures with Van Note spiking two kills. Sydney Schaffer landed a service ace to grow the lead to 11, but the Wildcats clawed back within six using a 4-0 run, however it was too late as Marian won the game 25-18.
With a new spark of life, the Knights charged in front 3-0 in the fourth set, and led 10-6 after consecutive Wildcat errors. A timeout brought Indiana Wesleyan back on their feet as they embarked on an 8-1 run to roar back into the lead. Van Note stopped the run momentarily, but Indiana Wesleyan continued their attack pushing the lead to 21-15. After a Marian timeout, the Wildcats began an error-plagued offense, giving Marian three free points while Jaymison Summers and Brooks each landed a powerful swing. Avery Toole scored back to back kills to level the set at 22, allowing Marian to ride the momentum to a 26-24 victory.
Seeing the match tied at 2-2, Marian did their best to hold onto the momentum by going on a 4-1 run to start the fifth set. Lanman and Van Note paced the spree, but the Wildcats would answer out-scoring the Knights 5-1 to seize a share of the lead. Another 3-0 run would allow the Wildcats to lead 9-7 as the teams switched ends of the court, but a timeout got the Knights back in system with Norwood landing a pair of kills. The senior's attack sparked a 5-0 run, putting the Wildcats behind 12-9. Marian ended strong after the final timeout, getting kills from Norwood, Van Note, and Summers to win the match with the 15-10 fifth set victory.
Marian had 57 kills in the match and hit .205, while forcing 28 Wildcat attack errors. The Knights landed eight total blocks, and won the defensive matchup with 99 digs. Van Note dominated as she had a monstrous 24-kill, 18-dig double-double, while Norwood eclipsed 1000 career kills in her 13-kill match. Norwood also had three total blocks. Neighbors led the setters with 27 assists, while Logan Smith had 15 assists and 20 digs for her second-consecutive double-double. Gianna Feld had 16 digs from her libero position and Schaffer had 13, and Summers had a team-high four blocks to pair with her eight kills.
Marian will advance to the Crossroads League Tournament Championship match on Saturday night, where they will face Taylor University. The title match in Upland, Indiana, is set to begin at 7 p.m. With Marian matching up against Taylor in the tournament championship, Marian has secured an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.
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