New Albany, Ind. - After struggling through the opening set of their regular season opener, the Marian volleyball team found a rhythm and rolled through the next three sets to earn a 3-1 win over IU-Southeast.

The season opening win started slow, as IU-Southeast built an early 7-3 lead in the opening set. Through a series of strong attacks from Madison Brooks and miscues from the Grenadiers Marian was able to claw back within a point of IU-Southeast on multiple occasions, but could never overtake the home team. Marian was able to get within two points on three different occasions in the final 12 points of the set, but were unable to bring the score to a draw, eventually going down 25-20. 

IU-Southeast errors benefited the Knights early in the second set, allowing Marian to build a lead which they would control for all but four rallies in the set. Marian won the race to 10 points in the game with a pair of Nicole Wilkinson blocks pacing the defense, establishing a five-point cushion. The Grenadiers would rally and tie the set 13 apiece, but the swings from Wilkinson and Mikayla Christian helped will the team in front. The set would teeter back and forth until the final four rallies, when a pair of errors sparked a finishing 4-0 Marian run, giving Marian a 25-22 victory.

Marian was unable to ride the momentum from their win in the second set early in the ensuing game, as they fell behind 10-4. Brooks and Sarah Bennett played a key role in the rally, as a 6-1 run tied the set at 11-11. The Knights would fall behind 14-13 a few rallies later, but a kill and block from Khori Dryden would spark a commanding 8-0 run, sealing the set for Marian as they went on to take the game 25-17.

The fourth set would again be owned by the Knights, as Bennett and Dryden helped fuel an early 8-5 lead. Over the next 12 rallies, Marian continued to hold a steady advantage, building a 15-10 lead. IU-Southeast would be unable to recover from their deficit, as kills from Fish, Dryden, and Christiansen pulled the Knights within six points of a victory. A strong swing by Christiansen and block from Wilkinson would close out the win for Marian, as the Knights ended the match with a 25-17 fourth set victory.

The Knights recorded 39 kills in the win, and were led by Brooks and Christiansen with eight each. Sydney Schaffer led the team in aces with two, and Emerson Evans posted a career-high 17 assists.

Marian will play their home opener on Wednesday, August 21 as they take on IUPUC at 7:00 p.m. in the PE Center.

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