Richmond, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team got off to a positive start Wednesday night by winning the first set at IU-East, but were unable to continue their winning, losing the next three sets to fall to the Red Wolves 3-1. Marian's loss drops their record on the young season to 2-3 overall.

Marian got off to a strong start in the opening set of the match, running out to a quick 8-1 lead. Gabby Fish and Sarah Bennett helped the team reach double figures four rallies after an early timeout, and won the race to 15 after two attack errors built a six-point lead. Marian maintained their lead and got to set point after three kills from Madison Brooks, and had to stave off a late rally from IU-East as the visitors took the opening set 25-23.

The Knights again started strong as the second set began, building a quick 5-2 lead. Brooks continued to be the main weapon in the Marian offense as Ainsley Neighbors continued to set the junior hitter, as the tandem allowed the Knights to again reach 10 points first. IU-East would rally back, and scored five of six points to tie the set at 13-13. The Red Wolves would capture the lead a handful of rallies later after a pair of Marian attack errors, as the home team grew a three-point lead. Marian would continue to fight and scored three straight to help get back into the game, and would force set point following a kill from Emma Hirchak. Despite getting to set point, Marian was unable to capture the 2-0 lead in the match, as IU-East would take back the advantage and go on to win 29-27.

With the match level at 1-1, IU-East rode the momentum from their second set win and built a 10-6 lead through 16 rallies. The Knights would chip back to get within two points of the Red Wolves as Brooks continued to lead the offense, but a pair of kills forced a Marian timeout as they trailed 16-12. IU-East scored back to back kills out of the timeout to build a six point lead, and continued to roll through the third game as they captured a 2-1 match lead with their 25-16 victory.

Marian fought early in the fourth set as they looked to secure a second victory of the match, battling back and forth with IU-East in the first 20 rallies. IU-East led 11-9 after the first stretch of the set, and forced a timeout from Marian after the Knights allowed three unanswered points to trail 14-10. IU-East kept their attack going scoring back to back points after the stoppage, and gradually built their lead to seven points with a 19-12 lead. The Red Wolves would use one final spurt with a 4-0 run, pulling away to claim the 25-16 set win and win the match 3-1.

Brooks was one of the standouts despite the defeat, as she tied her career-high with 17 kills. Brooks' 17 kills were the most for her in any-four set match in her three-year career. Logan Smith posted a double-double with 18 assists and 10 digs, while Neighbors finished with 17 assists. Gianna Feld posted 22 digs to lead the Knights, and Gabby Fish had nine kills. Sydney Schaffer finished with 15 digs and two service aces in her first match of the season.

The Knights will aim to snap their losing skid on Friday when they take on Governors State and Olivet Nazarene, traveling to Bourbonnais to take on the two Chicagoland foes.

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