Mishawaka, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team suffered their first loss of the 2022 season Wednesday night, as (RV) Bethel got the best of Marian in a four-set match. The defeat gives Marian their first blemish on the schedule, as they dip to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in Crossroads League play.
Bethel had the upper hand over Marian throughout the entire first set, as they took a wire-to-wire victory in the opening game. After exchanging blows through the first eight rallies, the Pilots took control of the set with a 4-0 run. The Knights would fall behind by as many as six throughout the game as Bethel's block and length at the net gave the visitors problems. Trailing 18-12, Marian would put together a rally fueled by an Averi Lanman and Madison Brooks block, as the 5-1 spurt brought them back within two. Bethel was able to get the side out and halt the momentum, freezing Marian as they went on to take a 25-21 win.
Marian came out aggressive in the second set as they took their first lead of the night by scoring the opening two points of the game, but a 5-0 Bethel run had the Knights playing from behind again. The combination of Gabby Fish and Jai-Lyn Norwood helped Marian claw their way back in front, as a 4-0 run gave the visitors an 11-9 lead. After a Bethel timeout Marian continued to pull away, gaining a six-point advantage thanks to multiple Pilot errors. Bethel would only be able to rally back within three points, as Skyler Van Note helped lead the team to a 25-19 second set win.
In the third set, Marian again found themselves playing from behind, as they fell into 5-1 and 14-8 deficits. Marian was able to rally back from their first hole thanks to a pair of Sydney Schaffer service aces, but the second took time. Blocks from Fish, Lanman, and Jaymison Summers aided the rally, as Marian slowly chipped back into things. An 11-6 run forced a Pilot timeout, and after the break Norwood tied the set at 20-20 with a strong kill. Bethel took the next point, but Norwood helped drive Marian in front 23-21 as she created a run.
The Pilots would tie and prolong the set, but the Knights halted their momentum with a kill from Fish, giving them a 25-24 advantage. On the play Fish rolled her ankle, and after the sophomore's exit Marian was unable to keep their rhythm intact, as Bethel took five of the next seven rallies to take a 29-27 win. Trailing 2-1 in the match, Marian was unable to fend off Bethel in the fourth set after the home side claimed a 9-7 lead. A 3-0 and 4-0 spurt from Bethel put the Knights behind 16-9, as they were unable to rally dropping the final set 25-17.
Marian hit just .177 on the night, well below their season average. The Knights' 45 kills through four sets was the fourth-lowest total of the season, as Bethel claimed 20 more kills. Norwood carried a bright spot in the defeat, hitting .297 as she racked up 15 kills. Van Note recorded 12 kills and had six total blocks, and Summers had a team-leading eight block assists. Fish had nine kills and three block assists before exiting the match. Katie Hardegree had a 24-assist, 17-dig double-double, and Gianna Feld led the Knights with 18 digs.
The Knights will return to action on Friday night as they travel to Grace College for a 7 p.m. matchup, as they look to get back in the win column.
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