Winona Lake, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team earned an upset win on the final night of the regular season Wednesday, taking down No. 18 Grace in straight sets with a 3-0 sweep. Marian's win vaulted the Knights to the No. 3 seed in the Crossroads League, as they enter the postseason with a record of 21-7 on the season and 12-6 in the Crossroads League.
The Knights blitzed the Lancers early, getting three total points from Mikayla Christiansen as they rushed in front with a 5-1 lead. Grace would rally within one, but Marian continued to put their foot to the pedal, going on a 4-0 run and 3-0 run to take a commanding 12-6 lead. Khori Dryden and Gabby Fish were catalysts in the run, and the two hitters eventually pulled Marian in front by eight with an 18-10 advantage. Marian closed the opening set scoring the final three points as Grace could do little to stop the team, winning the set on a Fish kill by a 25-15 score.
Marian again jumped in front big to start the second set, growing a 6-2 lead as Sarah Bennett and Dryden landed after rejecting an Anna Ballengee attack. Grace stayed closer to the Knights in the second, keeping within one to three points, but were unable to grab a lead through 26 rallies as a Madison Brooks kill spiked the 14-12 advantage. After the kill from Brooks, Marian's lead dwindled as the Lancers scored three straight to take a 15-14 lead, however the margin was short-lived following a kill by Dryden and block from Evie Dart. With the lead at hand, Marian would not look back, trading points before eventually using a four-point swing to win the second set 25-20 on back-to-back kills from Dart.
Grace responded trailing 0-2 in the third set, opening the game on a 3-0 run. Marian gradually rallied back and tied the set at 5-5, before using a 3-0 run to take the reigns on the lead with an 8-6 edge. Grace would jostle back within a point of Marian, but could not get back in front as the Knights stood their ground against the eighteenth ranked Lancers. Leading 16-15, Marian went on a 3-0 run that took final control of the set, pushing ahead by four and forcing a Grace timeout. Nicole Wilkinson and Mikayla Christiansen pushed the Knights to set point, where a Grace attack error would seal the night, with the 25-19 third set score giving Marian a 3-0 sweep.
The sweep over Grace allowed Marian to earn the No. 3 seed in the Crossroads League Tournament, winning the tiebreaker on points scored head-to-head this season. In the match, Dryden led Marian in points with 13.5, posting 11 kills and 14 digs for a double-double, while scoring two service aces and one block assist. Mikayala Christiansen had 11 kills as well, dropping 22 digs for a double-double. Christiansen also had a service ace, as did Emerson Evans who recorded 15 assists. Logan Smith had a team-lead in assists with 18 while adding 10 digs for Marian's third double-double of the night, and Emma Lyons had 18 digs in the match.
Marian will now set their sights on a postseason run, hosting Huntington on Saturday night in the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinals. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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