INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian volleyball team got back in the win column on Saturday evening, as they celebrated their senior class with a home sweep of St. Francis. Marian's win gives them victory 17 on the season, as they carry a 17-8 overall mark and 11-4 Crossroads League record.

Marian wasted little time in the first set, powering in front on a 4-0 lead as three points from Jaymison Summers helped the Knights. A service ace from Katie Hardegree in her rotation helped build momentum and grow the lead to six. The Knights held their advantage at six points for much of the first set, and gradually rotated deep into the roster as Sydney Henke came off the bench to post a block. Henke would add a kill, and two Khori Dryden kills helped Marian coast in the third set, as they rolled to a 25-19 set one win.

The Knights continued their winning efforts in the second set, scoring the first three points of the game. A run of four points started by Gabby Fish and Mikayla Christiansen helped Marian sieze the grasp on the game as they built an 11-6 lead, but the Cougars would claw back into the set as a service ace had them trailing by a point. Leading 14-13, a service error against the Cougars helped light a fire for the Knights, as the blocking numbers vaulted with Averi Lanman picking up a rejection. Marian's lead swelled to seven following the six point, and after taking the 20-13 advantage, a final run of three points started by Maddie Ellis led the home team to a 25-17 victory.

St. Francis took a brief lead at the start of the third set looking to extend the evening, but were unable to hold their lead as Emma Hirchack and Lanman willed Marian back in the lead. Hirchak started a 5-0 run with Marian leading 10-7 to double their advantage on the Cougars, as they pushed in front 15-7. The Cougars would inch back within four and forced a Marian timeout, but after the break Chloe Cook and Hirchak scored kills to keep Marian in control. Sarah Bennett and Hirchak would score the final kills of the match for Marian, with a Cougar attack error on match point giving the Knights a 25-16 victory to close the sweep.

Gabby Fish led Marian's balanced attack in kills with seven and a .389 hitting percentage, while Dryden had six and a .455 hitting percentage. Henke had two kills and a block assist in her outing, while Lanman had two kills and three total blocks. Hardegree led the team in assists with 16, while Ainsley Neighbors had eight. Emma Lyons led Marian with 13 digs, and Grace Hunter had nine in the win. 

Before the match, Marian honored their senior class of Averi Lanman, Grace Hunter, Maddie Ellis, Ainsley Neighbors, Katie Hardegree, Sydney Henke, and Gianna Feld. The seven seniors have helped the Knights to 96 wins in their careers, and three NAIA Tournament appearances to date. 

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