INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian volleyball team continued their winning start to the 2024 season on Wednesday night, as they earned a three-set sweep over IU-Columbus in their home opening match. The Knights win pushes their young record to a 2-0 mark. 

The Knights wasted no time getting off to a strong start in the home opening match, sprinting out to an 8-1 lead in the opening nine rallies of the match. Khori Dryden and Gabby Fish helped spring the Knights, who were able to carry the lead to nine points over the next four rallies. The Crimson Pride would whittle away at Marian's early lead and inch within three points, but after a timeout the combination of Fish and Dryden snapped the Knights back into rhythm. The jolt pushed Marian to a 19-13 lead and forced a Columbus timeout, paving the path to Marian's 25-15 first set win. A pair of blocks from Sarah Bennett helped close the set, with Marian using a 6-1 run to take the game.

IU-Columbus battled early in the second set after falling in set one, trading blows with Marian through the first 15 rallies. The lead never grew larger than two points for either team in the opening stages of the game, with Columbus claiming a 12-11 lead on the rally following a service ace from Sami Luttel. Nicole Wilkinson hammered a kill into the floor to bring the set back to even, sparking a run that put Marian in the driver's seat. The fourth-year collegiate ignited an 8-0 run, with Logan Smith serving Marian to their commanding 19-12 lead. Columbus would inch within two once more, but their efforts could not keep up with kills from Fish and Emma Hirchak, as Marian claimed a second set 25-19 victory.

Like the second, the third set started with a back and forth pace, before a 3-0 run allowed Marian to grow breathing room. A service ace from Sydney Schaffer pushed Marian on top 10-5, while Mikayla Christiansen held Marian's lead through a pair of Pride surges. The lead would shrink to two points on a pair of occasions for the Knights, but the offensive efforts kept them in the lead, eventually growing a 20-14 lead before coasting to a 25-17 third set win to complete the sweep.

Gabby Fish led Marian in kills with 10 of the team's 38, and Logan Smith led the team in assists with 15 on the night. Dryden finished the game with nine kills, and Christiansen had eight to pair with seven digs. Emma Lyons led the back row in digs as the reigning All-American recorded 17 digs. Sarah Bennett had five total blocks in the win to lead the Knights, and Sydeny Schaffer led the team in aces with two. 

Marian will kick-off a busy weekend on Friday, playing a pair of matches in the annual Onset Invitational hosted by the University of Saint Francis. Marian will take on Aquinas College and IU-South Bend on Friday, before playing UNOH and IU-East on Saturday.

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