Marian University women’s volleyball (0-1, 0-0 NACC) dropped a five-set thriller to UW-La Crosse to open the season 25-17, 17-25, 24-26, 25-14, 15-7.
 

• Slow starts proved to be the difference in all three sets the Sabres dropped with Marian trailing 8-2 to open the match.
• Marian was able to cut the deficit to four on two occasions before UWl ended he set with a 5-1 spurt.
• After opening the second with a 12-9 lead, Marian was able to go on a 7-2 run to extend its lead to eight points.
• The Eagles scored the next four points but Marian ended the set on a 6-2 run.
• Marian had a quick start to the third with a 5-1 lead only for the Eagles to chip away and lead 16-13.
• The Sabres then retook th lead with a 5-1 run.
• Another 5-1 spurt put Marian ahead 24-20 later in the set.
• The Eagles scored four straight to force extras, but back-to-back Marian kills put Marian ahead 2-1.
• UW-La Crosse dominated the opening points of the fourth 13-3.
• Marian built momentum headed into the fifth, however, piecing together a 6-2 run near the end of the set.
• Similarly to the fourth, the Eagles opened the fifth with a 10-2 start and never looked back to improve to 2-0 at the Marian Invitational.

• Marian finished with a 57-52 advantage for kills in the match and 74-62 edge for digs.
• The Eagles hit .247 with just 15 errors, while Marian hit .201.
• UWL also held an advantage at the net with 11 blocks along with posting 14 service aces.
• Marian is now 1-6 all-time against UW-La Crosse with just two meetings coming since 2023.

	Junior Kylie Krueger nearly had a double-double with 14 kills and eight digs.
	Senior Alana McDermott had a match-high 27 digs in the back row.
	Senior Harley Bartels had 11 kills, three service aces, and a pair of solo blocks.