Bourbonnais, Ill. - The Marian volleyball team erased their three-game losing streak on Friday and bounce back into the win column with a pair of wins, as the Knights earned back to back wins against CCAC opponents Olivet Nazarene and Governors State. The Knights swept both matches in straight sets, getting back over .500 as their record improves to 4-3 on the season. 

Game 1 | Marian 3-0 Olivet Nazarene (14-25-24)

The Knights pounced early and established the lead in the first set early, holding their own through the first 10 rallies of the match. Nicole Wilkinson and Mikayla Christiansen started what would be a big outing in the first few points for Marian, with the duo combining for four early points. Emma Hirchak and Alison Dreves helped score for the Knights in a 5-0 run which helped force a Tiger timeout, as the lead ballooned to 13-6. The transfer duo continued to attack and helped Marian reach a double-digit lead at 18-7, allowing the visitors to hold a steady pace. A pair of Olivet errors and Hirchak kill ended the set on a 3-0 run in favor of the Knights, as they took set one 25-14.

The second and third sets were not as one-sided, as Marian had to fight off extra set points in each of the two games. Olivet Nazarene built an early 7-4 lead in the second set, and later grew their lead to eight at 15-7 as the hitters for the home team got into a rhythm. A kill from Grace Hunter and service ace from Logan Smith on the ensuing rallies after a timeout got Marian back into system, and while trailing 17-10, made their run with Wilkinson, Christiansen, and Sarah Bennett helping pace a 6-0 run. The Knights would yield one point, but soon took the lead back with an ace from Ainsley Neighbors. The game teetered back and forth as Olivet would claim the first set point at 25-24, but a Hunter spike, brought the match level, with Marian scoring the final three points to take a 27-25 win.

The third set was as tightly contested as the second, with Marian clinging to an early 8-5 lead after scoring the first three points of the set. Olivet would hang with the Knights and go on their series of two and three point swings, eventually taking the lead at 15-14. Wilkinson and Gabby Fish helped stop the skid and put their team back in the lead, as Marian held control as the set moved to a draw at 20-20. The two sides exchanged side outs as the score inched to 24-24, as Marian held their control of the tempo. A spike from Wilkinson got the Knights to match point, while Emma Lyons delivered the final blow with a service ace to seal the sweep with a 26-24 win.

Wilkinson and Christiansen combined for 28 of the team's 47 kills in the win, as Wilkinson delivered 15. Neighbors led the Marian setters with 16 assists while adding three service aces, while Smith posted 15. Lyons recorded a team-best 15 digs to go with two aces, and Caroline Kubacki had two aces of her own. 

Game 2 | Marian 3-0 Governors State (17-18-14)

Turning back and playing on 30 minutes of rest in between matches, Marian came out flat in the opening moments of their match against Governors State as the Jaguars crept out to an early 10-6 lead. A Jaymison Summers kill turned the Knights back into form after falling behind, as the junior's kill sparked a 10-0 against the Jaguars, with Marian getting three service aces from Emma Lyons. Holding a grasp on the lead with their 16-10 advantage, the Knights were able to pace their way to a 1-0 lead in the match, as Christiansen scored four kills in a string of seven rallies to help push the lead to seven. Summers recorded back to back spikes to win the set, as the Knights won 25-17.

The second set started out back and forth in the first eight rallies, but quickly turned one sided as Marian reached an early nine-point lead with a 13-4 advanatage. A pair of errors ignited an 8-0 run, while Maddie Ellis and Sydney Schaffer helped score for the team with a kill and an ace. The advantage would reach double digits at 15-5 before Governors State started to chip back, as the Jaguars found a deep run of their by scoring eight unanswered points to get back within one of Marian. After the string of errors for the Knights subsided, a GSU service error gave the visiting team the side out they needed, as Marian scored five consecutive to gain breathing room. With a 21-15 lead at hand following the run, Marian scored four of the next seven rallies to take a 25-18 win and a 2-0 lead.

Marian rotated through the lineup multiple times in the third and final set, as the Knights battled to an early 6-6 stalemate. The two sides exchanged blows before Marian was finally able to go on a commanding run, with Emma Hirchak posting a pair of kills at the start of the 9-0 swing. The run under Sami Luttel's serve put Marian on top 18-9, with the Knights never looking back as they led by seven points or more for the remainder of the match. Averi Lanman drilled three kills in the Knights' closing stretch, as they finished the final game 25-14 to secure their second sweep of the day.

Summers and Christiansen led the Marian hitters in the second win of the day, with each player scoring nine. Lyons led the team with aces as she had three to go with her season-high 21 digs, and Logan Smith led the team with 15 assists. In total, Marian had 22 of their 25 players see action in the win over Governors State.

The Knights will continue their long preseason road stretch next weekend, as the team travels south to play in the Campbellsville Tournament. Action from Kentucky will be held on September 1 and 2. 

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