Box Score

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Two close set defeats decided the Marian University women's volleyball team's fate this afternoon as visiting Aurora University came away with a four-set victory (26-24, 17-25, 26-24, 25-18) at Sadoff Gymnasium today, Oct. 1.
 
Junior setter Katie Reimer turned in the match's lone double-double with 33 assists and 12 digs, but it wasn't enough as Aurora's front duo of Emilee Mitchell and Aimee Piotnek each tallied double-digit kills with 14 and 15, respectively. Both teams recorded nearly identical hitting percentages with Aurora holding the slight edge at .278 to .277.
 
Aurora improves to 5-15 on the season, 2-3 in the NAC, while Marian falls to 5-15 (2-3 NAC).
 
The Sabres held a lead in each of the four sets on Satuday. They led by three points in the opening set, the biggest lead for either team, but couldn't hold on. The Spartans broke a 24-24 tie late in the set with back-to-back points by Piotnek – a kill to set up the set point followed by an ace to close it out.
 
Marian would bounce back in the second set, scoring seven of the first eight points to take a commanding edge. The Sabres closed out the set with back-to-back points off Spartan errors to win the set, 25-17.
 
Much like the Sabres did in set two, the Spartans responded in set three. Marian took an early lead in the opening stages before the Spartans responded and both teams went back-and-forth exchanging leads. Like the first set, both teams were tied at 24-24 prior to Aurora closing things out with back-to-back points involving a Piotnek kill. The Sabres found themselves down 2-1 despite hitting .324 in the third set.
 
In set number four, Aurora went on a terrorizing run by scoring seven straight points after falling behind 1-0. It led to a seven-point, 25-18, win and a hitting percentage of .458.
 
Alexis O'Boyle tallied a match-high 41 assists for the visitors while Jessica Barney chipped in 14 digs.
 
The Sabres will hit the road to take on conference foe Alverno College in a 7 p.m. start in Milwaukee, Wis. Tuesday, Oct. 4.