San Marcos, Calif. - After falling behind 0-2 in the opening match of their California trip, the Marian volleyball team rallied and claimed a five-set victory over (RV) Vanguard Friday afternoon. Marian's thrilling win kicks off their stay in the St. Katherine Tournament with a 1-0 mark, while they improve to 5-0 overall.
Marian and Vanguard rallied back and forth in the opening set of the afternoon, with Marian pulling ahead early 10-4 thanks to strong blocking efforts from Averi Lanman, Madison Brooks, and Jai-Lyn Norwood. After a timout the Lions would chip their way back within one to force a Knight timeout, but could not come to a draw as Marian maintained the lead. A pair of errors gave Marian a 19-15 lead, but the defense allowed Vangaurd to creep back in, as they took a 22-21 advantage. Marian was able to rally and get to set point twice on a Gianna Feld service ace and Katie Hardegree kill, but the Lions stood firm and scored three unanswered to win 28-26.
The second set started much like the first, with the two sides trading blows, with Marian able to stay in front. The Knights saw an early 9-5 lead slip away with Vanguard coming within a point, but a 4-0 run sparked by a Jaymison Summers kill forced a timeout. The Lions continued to hang with Marian after the break, and forced their way to a tie at 19-19. Marian regained the lead after calling timeout, going to Norwood and Brooks, but the two point lead was all Marian was able to maintain as the Lions rallied back to win 25-23.
Trailing 0-2 for the first time in the young season, Marian charged early in the third set and never looked back, growing an 11-6 lead after multiple Vanguard errors. A kill from Norwood pushed her team in front 12-7, and created a 10-0 run under Emma Lyons serve, as they would go on to win the set 25-14. With momentum back on their side, the Knights got off to a promising start in the fourth set leading 7-3, but lost their grip as Vanguard pulled in front 14-11. Three straight points which featured a Skyler Van Note kill and solo block got Marian back in rhythm, as they rattled off seven of the next eight points to take a lead. Marian never looked back after going in front, winning the fourth set 25-20.
In the deciding set Vanguard took the opening point on a block, but Gabby Fish made noise to counter slamming a pair of kills to give her team fresh energy. After a Lanman block, the junior middle picked up a pair of kills around a Sydney Schaffer service ace, pushing Marian in front as the teams exchanged sides. The Lions would rally back to tie the set at 10-10 following six errors. A timeout ended Marian's streak of mistakes, as Fish, Lanman, and Van Note helped close the win, taking the deciding game 15-12 for the five-set victory.
The Knights hit .258 as a team in the win, and were led by Fish's 15 kills. Van Note had a double-double with 13 kills and 15 digs, while Norwood had 12 kills. Lanman dominated in the net with 12 block assists, and Brooks had five total blocks while adding six kills. Hardegree recorded a double-double as she led the team in assists with 27 while collecting 13 digs, and Feld had 14 digs. Lyons had three of the team's seven service aces.
The Knights will play later tonight at 9 p.m. against St. Katherine, before playing two matches on Saturday afternoon.
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