Fort Wayne, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team strung together their most efficient offensive day of the season on Saturday afternoon, collecting a clean 3-0 sweep over the Saint Francis Cougars. The Knights' winning streak moves to nine following the win, as their 13th consecutive win over the Cougars gives them an 11-1 record in the 2024 season.

Marian posted dominant numbers throughout the Saturday match, hitting a strong .333 in the match. Marian recorded a team-hitting percentage of .500 or better in both the first and second sets, and totaled 29 kills as a team on the day, with an assist coming on all but one kill. 

The Knights won the first set 25-13, blitzing ahead to a 14-4 lead as the combination of Mikayla Christiansen, Madison Brooks, and Nicole Wilkinson willed offense early on. Christiansen added a pair of service aces in a 5-0 run sparked by Gabby Fish, as the Cougars aided Marian's efforts with multiple hitting errors. The senior Christiansen finished the opening set with a kill, giving Marian the 1-0 lead with a 25-13 score.

In the second set, Marian proved who the more dominant side was, winning the game 25-8, the largest single-set win of the season for the Knights so far. The Cougars gifted Marian 12 points on attacking errors, while the Knights had eight kills on 14 swings. After a 6-4 start, a lopsided run of 8-1 for the Knights put the game in hands, with Wilkinson recording a pair of blocks in the spree. Marian added a 7-0 run to boost their lead before the set ended, while Khori Dryden capped a 3-0 run to end the set.

Marian held a large lead in the final set, building a 10-5 advantage early before an 8-0 run brought the score to 19-6. Evie Dart, Emma Hirchak, and Madison Brooks highlighted the run with blocks and kills, allowing Marian to eventually turn their cruise control on. Saint Francis would out-score Marian 9-6 as the match dwindled to its conclusion, but they were unable to withstand Marian's reserves on the floor, as Kadence Conrad and Danielle Schade put an end to the afternoon with a block to close the 25-15 third set.

The Knights offense was balanced in the win, with Fish, Brooks, and Dryden each recording a team-best five kills. Sami Luttel led the team in assists with 13, while Logan Smith had 10 to go with five digs. Emma Lyons posted 18 digs in the win, leading both teams. Wilkinson was credited with eight total blocks in the win, adding three kills. 

Marian will host Bethel University on Wednesday, ending their 10-match streak of contests played away from their home court. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m.

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