FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The 22nd-ranked Marian volleyball team capped their opening weekend of the 2025 season with a split decision against River States Conference members, as Marian fell in a five-set battle against No. 8 IU-Kokomo before ending the weekend with a sweep of West Virginia Tech. Marian ends their first week of the season with a 3-1 record. 

No. 22 Marian 2-3 No. 8 IU-Kokomo
In the game opening set the Knights put up a strong fight taking the 1-0 lead over No. 8 IU-Kokomo, taking the 25-21 set one win. The Knights took the early 2-0 lead with a kill from Chloe Cook and an ace from Sami Luttel. IU-Kokomo was able to push back going on a four point run before Marian leveled the set 4-4, with a kill from Nicole Wilkinson and a timely error from the Cougars. The Knights made multiple 2-0 runs but were broken up by IU-Kokomo's timely strikes. Marian maintained their 14-10 lead before forcing the Cougars to call a timeout. Out of the timeout Sarah Bennett, Khori Dryden, Cook, Ava Tindall were all able to record kills with Cook recording a pair to maintain their 22-19 lead and force an IU-Kokomo timeout once more. Coming off of the timeout Dryden and Avery Toole recorded back-to-back kills to move into set point. The Cougars made a final push but came up shy off of a service error to allow the Knights to secure the win.

Marian continued their push winning set two with a score of 25-18 recording multiple 3-0 runs to get up 10-6 early pulling a IU-Kokomo timeout. Wilkinson, Dryden, Bennett, Tindall, and Toole all made key kills to extend the Knights lead before the timeout. Out of the timeout the Knights continued their push with Cook and Dryden recording a kill each and Toole recording three as well as Mya Cunningham recording an ace to extend the lead 18-12 and force another timeout. Coming off of the timeout the Cougars held the Knights and transferred points back and fourth before Marian benefited off of two attacking errors to take the set win and extend their lead 2-0. 

Set three was the closest set of the match as Marian dropped set three 26-24. Toole and Tindall recorded one kill each while Cook recorded two, Dryden recorded three and an ace, and Wilkinson as well as Bennett each recorded five in the set. The Cougars benefited off of their win in set three to take set four 25-20 over the Knights. Marian pushed at IU-Kokomo early with Luttel recording a kill followed by a pair of service aces from Emma Lyons to take the 3-2 lead before the Cougars' push. Dryden and Cook played integral roles in the fourth set each recording crucial kills while Dryden recorded another ace. Marian put up a tough fight in the fifth set but unfortunately fell 15-11 in the end. The Knights benefited on attacking errors from the Cougars while Chloe Cook led the team in kills in the fifth set before Marian fell 3-2 to IU-Kokomo.

Khori Dryden led the team in kills with 18 while Chloe Cook wasn't far behind with 16. Sami Luttle, Emma Lyons, and Dryden all recorded two service aces on the match. Sarah Bennett led the team in block with four block assists while Avery Toole recorded three assists and Nicole Wilkinson recorded two solo and one assist. Lyons led the team in digs with 26 while Lexa Zimmerman recorded 14. 

No. 22 Marian 3-0 West Virginia Tech
Bouncing back from their loss against IU-Kokomo the Knights breezed by West Virginia Tech 3-0. Taking the opening set 25-18 taking charge early. Drawing a Golden Bears timeout with the 9-4 lead highlighted by multiple kills and aces from Evie Dart. Marian continued their push increasing the lead 19-16 benefitting on errors and kills from Chloe Cook, Ava Tindall, and Avery Toole. The Knights sealed the game with a 6-0 run behind Mya Cunningham's three service aces and kills from Sarah Bennett and Toole.

Marian extended their lead with a 25-14 win in set two. West Virgina Tech got up early but quickly got leveled by a 3-0 run from Marian benefitting off of attacking errors. The Knights continued their lead with multiple long runs highlighted by Dart, Cook, Bennett, Tindall, and Toole's kills as well as serving aces from Emma Lyons. Marian took the set two win from a kill by Chloe Cook from Emerson Evans.

The Knights won set three in a come-from-behind fashion as they trailed 10-6 early in the set. But brought back up the energy and quickly leveled the set with a 3-0 and a 4-0 run. These runs were highlighted by kills from Cook, Callaway Marsh, and Bennett. Marian continued to record long runs to increase their lead 19-14 and force a West Virgina Tech timeout. Out of the timeout Marian was able to benefit off of erros and kills from Tindall and Toole to secure the 25-20 set win and 3-0 match win.

Evie Dart and Chloe Cook led the team in kills with 10 each while Avery Toole and Sarah Bennett each recorded six. Mya Cunningham and Emma Lyons led the team in aces with three each while Dart recorded a pair. Sarah Bennett led the team in blocks with two while Emma Lyons led the team in digs with 16.

Marian will host their first home game of the season when they return to play on August 27, taking on IU-Columbus at 7:00 p.m. in the PE Center.

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