INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian volleyball team dropped their second consecutive match on Saturday afternoon, as the Knights were bested by No. 20 Taylor in straight sets. Marian's loss on the team's senior day drops the overall record on the season to 15-9, while falling to 7-8 in the Crossroads League.

Marian fell in set one 25-22, battling Taylor throughout the game until a late surge sealed the victory for Taylor. The Trojans collected 16 kills in the first set to Marian's 13, while committing two less errors than the Knights. Khori Dryden started strong for Marian with five kills in the first game, while spikes from Sarah Bennett, Chloe Cook, and Mya Cunningham helped Marian make the set tight. The kills from Bennett, Cook, and Cunningham took place during a 4-0 run that brought the game to a 15-15 draw, however, a 3-0 and 4-1 run from Taylor in the final 18 rallies would seal a 25-22 score.

Set two was dominated by Taylor, who won the game 25-13. The Knights played into Taylor's strong block, with the Trojans collecting four total blocks in the game. Marian was also out-hit by the Trojans in the one-sided second set, as Taylor logged a hitting percentage of .433 in the set.

Trailing 2-0, Marian turned up their intensity in set three, coming out strong with a 3-1 lead. Marian held a lead through 18 rallies, taking a 10-8 lead behind a Chloe Cook service ace. Taylor gradually took the lead as a block from Ellie Frey and Ruth Anderson gave the visitors a 13-12 lead, putting the Trojans in front for the first time. Marian would come back and tie the set at 15, continuing a trend of back-and-forth volleyball with Taylor on the leading side of the ledger. A service ace from Mya Cunningham pushed Marian into a late lead, as the ace punctuated a 3-0 run that gave the Knights a 21-20 edge. 

Unfortunately for the Knights, the run would not allow Marian to extend the match, as Taylor would score on five of the final six rallies to come away with the sweep, winning the game 25-22.

Dryden led the Knights in kills with 11, but finished the day hitting .028. Cook finished with nine kills, and Nicole Wilkinson had three kills. Emma Lyons had a team-high 12 digs, and Mya Cunningham led the Knights in assists with 16. Avery Toole had three kills in the loss. 

Marian will finish a three-game homestand on Wednesday night, hosting current No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan at 7:00 p.m.

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