FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University women's volleyball team took control early by holding visiting and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference unbeaten, Benedictine University, to 17 points in the first set, but the Eagles stormed back to take the next three, including a 30-28 third set, on the way to its sixth league win in as many tries inside Sadoff Gymnasium, this evening, Oct. 11.

The Sabres closed out the first set with fury as they rallied off the final seven points to win 25-17. After the Eagles took the second set to tie the match at 1-1, a hotly-contested third set followed. An inspired Marian squad fought to extend the game on five separate occasions, but Benedictine proved too strong as they outlasted the marathon set en route to the win.

The Sabres were led by Anna Smit's team-high 14 kills, while Casey Lamberty added 13 kills and 18 digs. Katrina Jansen kept several points alive as she added a match-high 22 digs. Freshmen Morgan Dercks and Jordan Menges tallied 18 assists apiece. Benedictine's Candice Cuppini recorded a match-high 16 kills, posting a .412 hitting percentage in the process.

The Eagles improved to 12-10 overall, 6-0 in the NACC with the win, while the Sabres dropped to 5-17 (1-4 NACC) with the loss.

Smit led Marian with five kills and a solo block in the first set. Jansen led a rally of seven straight points, serving the final six to close out the set and give the Sabres an early 1-0 advantage.

The Eagles showed why they were 5-0 in the league entering the night with a solid second set. Nicole Adams and Cuppini tallied four kills each, while Abby Sattler added six of her 14 digs in the match on the way to a 25-19 set win.

The Sabres built an 11-5 lead to open the third set, but Benedictine came storming back to take a 13-12 advantage. From then on, neither team held a lead of more than three points when the Eagles went up 20-17.

Trailing 24-22, Marian dug deep and got back-to-back kills from Lamberty to tie the set and force extra points. After trading the next two points, the Sabres took a 26-25 lead on another kill from Lamberty, who was one of three Sabres to tally five kills in the set.

Benedictine did not go away quietly, rallying for two points of its own to take a one point lead and forcing Head Coach Kerri Huebel to take a time out to regroup her squad.

Out of the break, Katlin Jarvis dropped one of her five kills on the night to extend match yet again. However, with the score tied at 28-all, the Eagles produced the difference in the set with back-to-back kills by Molly Kovacich and Cuppini to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Sabres looked as if they had expended every ounce of energy in the third set battle and Benedictine quickly jumped out to a commanding 13-4 lead and never looked back.

Marian will have a quick turnaround as it plays host to Aurora University (10-12, 3-2 NACC) tomorrow, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. The Sabres took down the Spartans once already this season, going away in three sets in a non-conference tilt back on Sept. 7.