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Spring Arbor Tops No. 22 Marian in Thrilling Five-Set Clash
October 9, 2024

Spring Arbor Tops No. 22 Marian in Thrilling Five-Set Clash

INDIANAPOLIS – The Crossroads League volleyball schedule can no doubt be considered one of the toughest in all of NAIA volleyball, and so far this season, the Spring Arbor volleyball team have definitely experienced that. However, the beauty of the schedule is that it provides a chance for redemption by playing every team a second time.

After going 3-6 through their first slate of conference matchups, Spring Arbor was looking to cash in on some of that redemption, with 22nd ranked Marian being their first opportunity to do so.

Back in September, the two squads played a very entertaining match to start conference play, but the Knights' defense carried them to a four-set victory. That match was back and forth throughout, and this one would prove to be the same.

In set one, the teams traded leads nine different times early, resulting in a slim 9-8 advantage for Marian, before Spring Arbor got hot. The Cougars went on a dominating 9-0 run, highlighted by three kills from Kendall Bollenbacher, and a kill and an ace from Kirstyn Throop to give them a 17-9 lead that they would not relinquish, winning the set 25-14.

In set two, Spring Arbor started hot, riding the momentum from set one to a 6-0 lead, once again led by three Bollenbacher kills. However, Marian was not going to go down easy, as they started to claw back. They cut the deficit to two with SAU still holding a slim 10-8 advantage before the Knights went on a 17-8 run the rest of the way to take the set 25-18.

Set three was similar to set one, with both teams going back and forth early, and a Spring Arbor run putting them up for good. However, Marian made it interesting. After Spring Arbor cruised to a 19-11 advantage, Marian had a quick 4-0 run to bring them within four at 19-15. The Cougars would shut that down though, taking advantage of some attack errors from the Knights, as another Bollenbacher kill sealed the set victory for Spring Arbor, 25-18.

While the first three sets started back and forth early then went one direction late, set four was truly a roller coaster until the end. Marian held the slight lead early, getting the advantage up to four at 14-10, before a 4-0 Cougar run would bring it to a deadlock at 14 all. Marian scored to retake the lead, before two straight Spring Arbor points would give them their first lead at 16-15. The Knights would score two straight of their own to once again claim the lead at 17-16, before the two teams would trade points up to a 20-20 tie. From there, the Cougars looked like they might be on their way to victory, scoring two straight on an Isabelle Kirkendall kill and a Bollenbacher ace to go up 22-20. However, Marian found some late life, scoring five straight points, and forcing a deciding fifth set with the 25-22 set victory.

For as many theatrics as set four had, set five matched it. Marian took the early lead 2-0, before a pair of Keely Hinzman kills, and a pair of Marian attack errors gave the Cougars a 4-2 lead. Each team grabbed another point to make it 5-3 SAU, before the Knights went on a 4-0 run to take a 7-5 lead of their own. The teams would stay close for the next few points, and Spring Arbor rallied to eventually tie the score at 11 all. From there, Bollenbacher took over for Spring Arbor, as she had throughout the match, getting three kills with a Marian point mixed between to give the Cougars match point at 14-12. Kirkendall sealed it with a kill of her own, giving Spring Arbor the set and the massive match victory.

 

 

THE BASICS

SCORE: Spring Arbor 3, (22) Marian 2 (25-14, 18-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-12)

LOCATION: Indianapolis, Ind.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 10-9 (4-6 CL), Marian 15-5 (6-4 CL)

 

 

MATCH NOTES

  • Kendall Bollenbacher was the undisputed star of the match, as the junior attacker led the offense with a career high 22 kills. Isabelle Kirkendall also played well with 11 kills, and Kelsie Lilly added seven.
  • Camy Wedge was stellar from the setter position, recording another double-double with 27 assists and 12 digs, along with two aces.
  • Defensively, Kirstyn Throop was putting in work, leading the back row with 33 digs along with four assists and an ace. Sheridan Young also played well, with 17 digs and four assists of her own. Up front, Keely Hinzman and Julia Mitchell led the way with three blocks each.
  • Along with her stellar offensive effort, Bollenbacher contributed all over the court. Going with her 22 kills, Bollenbacher had a double-double with 12 digs, and also had three aces.
  • The win was Spring Arbor's first over Marian since 2011, and was the first victory over a ranked opponent since 2021 when the Cougars upset No. 18 Taylor University in five sets.

 

 

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor will look for more redemption as No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan comes to town. That contest will be in the American 1 Credit Union Arena on Saturday, Oct. 12. First serve is set for 3 p.m.