Sioux City, Iowa - The Marian volleyball team saw their impressive 2022 season come to an end on Saturday in the NAIA Tournament Quarterfinals, as the Knights were swept by No. 1 Eastern Oregon. The Knights lost in set scores of 25-21, 25-18, and 25-18. Marian's season ends with a 26-7 overall record.
The Knights battled the top team in the NAIA throughout the first set, and had kills from five different attackers on their first five points. The Mountaineers used a 3-0 run to grow separation, but Marian clawed back with a block from Sydney Henke and a Skyler Van Note kill. Despite getting within two, a 6-1 spree by Eastern Oregon grew the deficit to seven. Marian kept fighting despite dropping behind, and steadily worked back into the set as a Gianna Feld service ace and Henke kill changed momentum. A late 5-1 run started by Madison Brooks would force a timeout to be called, but the comeback was too late as Marian fell 25-21.
Van Note got Marian off to the right tone in the second set as she landed back-to-back kills to provide an early lead, but the team was unable to keep in front as a 4-0 Eastern Oregon run forced a timeout from the MU bench. Marian got back within two after the timeout, but mistakes hurt their chances as Eastern Oregon jumped in front 16-11. Brooks and Sydney Schaffer helped lead a charge to once again make it a two-point set, but two errors hurt the comeback efforts. Marian used their final timeout, but couldn't keep the rally alive as Eastern Oregon scored five of the next eight points to win 25-18.
Despite trailing 2-0, Marian started strong in the third as Henke, Brooks, and Van Note built an early lead. A Jai-Lyn Norwood kill pushed Marian in front 6-4, but the Mountaineers stayed with their game plan as they took the lead with a 6-0 run. Trailing 10-6 the Knights used a timeout and responded by getting back within three, but they were unable to slow down Eastern Oregon. The top seed pushed their lead to seven, and kept Marian playing from behind as they led by as many as eight. Marian challenged late as Brooks and Van note hammered kills to make it a five-point difference, but couldn't keep the fight alive as Eastern Oregon completed the sweep with a 25-18 win in the third set.
Van Note had 11 of the team's 34 kills in her final collegiate match, while Brooks had seven. Henke and Norwood combined for nine spikes, and in the back row Katie Hardegree led the team with 10 digs to go with her 17 assists. Ainsley Neighbors had 13 assists in the match, and Jaymison Summers had four total blocks to tie for a team high.
Marian reached the NAIA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season in 2022, reaching the NAIA Quarterfinals for the third time as their season ends with a 26-7 overall mark.
MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.
