UPLAND, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team completed the season sweep over Taylor Saturday afternoon at Odle Arena by defeating the hosts in four sets (23-25, 25-9, 25-15, 25-20). The win gives Marian a 19-9 overall record and 13-5 in CL play. 

The first set was tight to begin the first set, going point for point before Taylor found the largest lead of the set at 14-10. The Trojans were able to grab four consecutive points after errors plagued the Knights and a kill by the hosts allowed them to have a small spurt. After a Marian timeout, the Knights jumped back in it behind a kill from Madison Brooks on the feed from Logan Smith. Taylor stayed poised and continued their lead, but it was a kill coming from Mikayla Christiansen ignited a 5-0 run to give Marian the 20-18 advantage. Taylor responded right back with a run of their own, helping them close out the set 25-23.

Marian answered in commanding fashion in set two, rattling off a 10-3 lead to force the Taylor timeout. The Trojans were able to get back on the board after the timeout, but it was the Knights coming right back with a kill from Gabby Fish. The Knights kept the Trojans at arm's length throughout and closed the second set with back-to-back kills from Nicole Wilkinson and Brooks. Marian would take set two with ease at 25-9.

Brooks got the Knights started in set three as she grabbed the first points for her team, before Khori Dryden pounded down a kill to cap off a 5-2 run. Taylor was able to counter to pull within at one, before Dryden's kill sparked another run to put her team ahead 12-7. The next few points went back and forth, but Marian still continued to extend their lead and eventually pulled away for the 25-15 victory. 

Despite dominating wins in set two and three, the third set proved to be a battle from start to finish. The two teams traded points to start before Taylor saw themselves in front 10-7. Marian found three straight points behind a kill from Fish to even the score at 10, eventually propelling a 3-1 spurt to put the Knight up 13-11. It was a back and forth battle the remainder of the set until the Knights put themselves at a 23-20 favor that saw Smith setting up Christiansen and Brooks for the finals kills of the match. 

Four Knights registered double digits for kills, with Christiansen leading with 13, while Brooks had 12, Dryden with 11, and Fish adding 10. Smith set her team up nicely as she poured in a game-high 31 assists to go along with 11 digs for the double double. Ainsley Neighbors chipped in 19 assists, while Emma Lyons posted a game-best 23 digs and Christiansen had 12 digs to finish her double double. 

Marian has earned the No. 3 seed and will host Spring Arbor on November 4 at 6:30 p.m. for the Crossroads League Tournament quarterfinals. 

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