San Marcos, Calif. - The Marian volleyball team picked up their second win on their weekend in California, taking down hosts Saint Katherine University in straight sets. The win is the second for acting head coach Diego Gutierrez, as the Knights improve to 6-0 overall on the season.
The Knights got off to a quick start in the first start, building an early 7-3 lead after getting kills from three different players and an Averi Lanman solo block. The Firebirds would charge back and take a brief hold of the lead by an 11-9 score, but a pair of kills from Gabby Fish helped get Marian back in system. Marian used a 6-0 run to roar back in front, building their lead back on kills from Skyler Van Note. Van Note and Fish helped put the polishing touches on the first set after taking the 18-13 lead, winning the opener 25-17.
In the second set Marian played from behind through the first 14 rallies, but gained momentum on back to back Van Note kills to capture a 7-6 lead. Lanman and Van Note helped drive the lead up to three points, as Marian never looked back with their advantage growing to four. Leading 16-13, two Van Note kills helped force a Saint Katherine timeout, and after the stoppage a pair of errors increased the margin to seven. The Knights scored four of the final five points, getting back to back blocks from Lanman, Madison Brooks, and Van Note to take the game 25-15.
Marian wasted little time ending their day, closing the match with a one-sided 25-6 win in the third set. Errors plauged the Firebirds helping the visiting Knights to grow a 10-5 lead, and from there Marian went on a roll under Emma Lyons serve, scoring seven straight points to go on top by double-figures. Gianna Feld ended the match after Lyons' service run came to a halt, as the libero helped served on each of the final seven rallies, winning the match with an ace.
As a team Marian hit .378, and had a career-best effeciency from Skyler Van Note, who scored a match-high 14 kills on 20 attacks, hitting .700. Van Note also had four block assists, an assist, one service ace, and 13 digs to complete her second double-double of the weekend. Setter Katie Hardegree also had a double-double posting 13 assists and a team-high 13 digs, while Ainsley Neighbors had 12 assists in the win. Lanman finished with five kills and six total blocks, bringing her total to 18 on the weekend.
The Knights will finish the weekend with matches against Hope International and San Diego Christian on Saturday afternoon.
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