MILWAUKEE (SabreAthletics.com) – Behind tremendous efforts all around, the Marian University women's volleyball team picked up its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference victory by defeating host Alverno College in four sets (17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-19) inside Reiman Gymnasium, this afternoon, Oct. 5.

As a team, Marian outhit Alverno .189 to .098. Sophomores Anna Smit and Casey Lamberty led the way offensively for the Sabres with 14 and 13 kills, respectively. Freshmen Morgan Dercks and Jordan Menges split setting duties, tallying 18 and 17 assists, respectively. Lamberty posted her fourth double-double of the year after adding a team-leading 17 digs in the victory.

Marian improved to 6-15 overall and 1-3 in the NACC, while snapping its 12-match losing skid with the win. Meanwhile, Alverno dropped to 9-8 (1-4 NACC).

The Sabres got off to a slow start when the Inferno compiled a .300 hitting percentage in the first set. Emily Ortner tallied six kills on 11 attacks with five digs in the first set alone. Marian struggled, hitting .182 with five errors in the 25-17 setback.

However, Head Coach Kerri Huebel's squad rebounded by sweeping the next three sets and holding the Inferno to just a .052 hitting percentage.

Lamberty paced Marian in the second set with seven kills and three digs, while Smit did her damage in the third set with six kills and two assisted blocks.

The Sabres trailed for half of the third set before using an 11-5 run to take a 13-12 advantage and never looked back.

The fourth set was all Marian as it jumped out to a 15-7 lead early. Alverno threatened as it brought the score within four points, but the Sabres pulled away to win by six.

Next weekend will mark Family Weekend as Marian will play host to Benedictine Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. and Aurora Saturday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m.