INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian volleyball team returned home after an extensive 10-match road streak, earning their first home Crossroads League win of the season as they swept Bethel 3-0. Marian's three-set win over the Pilots gives them a 10-match winning streak, as they move to 12-1 overall and 3-0 in CL play.

The Knights came out swinging in the first set on Wednesday night, running their offense through Khori Dryden and Mikayla Christiansen early and often. A powerful kill from Nicole Wilkinson highlighted an four-point run that gave Marian an 8-4 lead, setting the pace for the set as Marian held their lead near four-points through the next 13 rallies. The Pilots would fight back and tie the game 16-16, but a Gabby Fish kill reignited Marian's attack, as the Knights surged ahead on a 7-3 run. Dryden and Wilkinson put Marian on top 23-19 as the run ended, allowing Marian to coast to the second set as they closed the game victoriously 25-22.

After the battle in the first set, Marian dominated the second, using a 10-0 run to gain a commanding 13-2 lead. Marian's run sparked under Sami Luttel's serve, as the sophomore served on 10 consecutive rallies, landing one service ace in the spree. Wilkinson, Dryden, and Madison Brooks began a block party as well in the run, putting Marian in strong command. Christiansen and Sarah Bennett soon took over and helped fuel a 7-0 run, pushing Marian's dominant lead to 16 points. Bennett ended the set with a kill, as the pair of one-sided runs aided the Knights' 25-8 victory.

Bethel responded strongly after their double-digit second-set loss, leading for much of the early stages in the third set. Marian upended the Pilots 9-5 lead as Christiansen and Logan Smith pushed their team in front 10-9, but the 5-0 run was unable to be extended as Bethel regained their footing. The set went back and forth with the teams exchanging one and two point swings, before the visitors pushed ahead 17-13. Marian called for timeout after the game yielding the four-point run, and slowly started to claw back, with Dryden and Wilkinson helping get within one.

A 3-0 run from the Knights forced a Bethel timeout, as another three-point swing paced by Christiansen and Bennett moved Marian to set point with a 24-23 lead. Down to their last rally, Bethel fought and extended play as they scored three of the next four rallies, taking a 26-25 lead. Marian remained in the game, and ran their offense through Dryden, as the sophomore scored the final three points of the match, as her strong kills gave Marian the sweep with the 28-26 victory.

As a team in the win, Marian hit .288, while limiting Bethel to a .113 hitting percentage. Dryden led the team in kills with 14, hitting .294, while Christiansen had 13 kills on 26 attacks, recording zero hitting errors. Christiansen recorded a double-double on the night, adding a team-high 17 digs in the win, while also recording one block assist and one service ace. Emma Lyons recorded 16 digs in the win, and Luttel recorded a team-high 19 assists. Logan Smith had 16 assists in the match, and Wilkinson posted five kills and two block assists. Bennett led the Knights with four block assists and five kills. 

Marian will take their winning streak on the road on Saturday, as they face a test in No. 22 Mount Vernon Nazarene. The match in Ohio begins at 1:00 p.m.

MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.