INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian volleyball team gave the No. 3 team in the NAIA their toughest fight of the season on Wednesday night in the PE Center, but came up short of forcing of a fifth set as Indiana Wesleyan defeated the Knights 3-1. Marian's loss snaps their five-match win streak, dropping Marian to 12-6 overall and 6-2 in Crossroads League play.

The Knights came out on a flat tone in the opening set of the night, but gradually turned things to their favor as a kill from Gabby Fish and Caroline Kubacki gave Marian their first lead at 9-8. The rebound after giving up the first four points of the set continued, as Marian battled the Wildcats by holding a lead for much of the remaining 33 rallies. Marian's lead would grow to as many as five with Averi Lanman and Fish scoring to force both of the Indiana Wesleyan timeouts, but the Wildcats answered a 23-18 deficit with one final charge. Indiana Wesleyan used a 6-1 run to tie the set at 24, but a service error gave Marian breathing room, with the Wildcats committing a second error to seal a 26-24 win for the home team.

Marian rode the momentum from their win into a strong start in the second set, as Logan Smith and Madison Brooks were early catalysts in forcing an timeout after three rallies. Marian's 4-0 opening run would be answered by the visitors, as the game continued to teeter between a two-point margin. Trailing 11-10 a block by Gabby Fish and Averi Lanman sparked a one-sided 7-0 run, as the Knights rapidly built a 17-11 lead. The Wildcats didn't flinch despite falling behind by seven, using a run of their own to inch back within two. The Wildcats eventually overtook Marian despite the home team leading 23-21 on a kill from Sydney Schaffer, as a 4-0 run put away the set with Indiana Wesleyan winning 25-23. 

Despite seeing their lead falter in the second set, Marian was aggressive early in the third set, opening on a 4-0 run while a pair of Mikayla Christiansen kills after a side out pushed Marian in front 6-1. Similar to the second set, a 5-0 run from Indiana Wesleyan allowed the Wildcats to recover and take control of the set, gradually charging in front 13-10. Marian was only able to keep within two points after falling behind, as the Wildcats led by as many as six points in their efforts of closing a 25-19 win in the third set.

Trailing 2-1 in the match, the Knights clawed and fought to attempt to force a fifth set, fighting to build a 9-5 lead in the fourth set. Blocks from Averi Lanman helped Marian set the tone early, and the Knights led 15-11, however two runs by the Wildcats eventually pushed them back in front 17-16. Marian continued to hang in the fight and tied the set at 20-20 with another block from Lanman and Fish, but the Wildcats scored four unanswered the gave them the lead for good. Grace Hunter's final kill of the evening was unable to extend Marian's scoring run, as the Wildcats landed the final point and won the match with a 25-23 fourth set score.

As a team the Knights posted a .143 hitting percentage, and were led in kills by Christiansen's 12. Christiansen posted a double-double, finishing with 20 digs defensively. Logan Smith had a 21-assist, 21-dig double-double in the match, and Brooks had Marian's only other double-digit kill performance with 11. Averi Lanman shined in the net with eight total blocks including one solo rejection, and Gabby Fish had seven block assists.

Emma Lyons defense in the match stole the box score, as the sophomore libero set a career-high and Marian volleyball modern-day single match record with 38 digs. Lyons averaged 9.5 digs per set in her career-best match, while also adding eight assists. 

Marian will return to action on Friday night as part of Marian's homecoming and family weekend festivities, hosting Taylor University at 7 p.m.

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