MILWAUKEE - The Marian University men's volleyball team (0-2, 0-0 MCVL) opened their inaugural season in Milwaukee for a triangular but fell to both host MSOE and Benedictine.

The Sabres dropped their opening match of the day to the Raiders in four sets with scores of 25-22, 25-13, 23-25, and 25-21.  Marian opened the match with the early lead at 14-10, and carried that lead out to a 20-18 tally before the Raiders used a 7-2 run to close out the set.

The second set was all Raiders as they hit .483 with 16 kills to only two errors to cruise to a 2-0 set lead.  MU was able to force a fourth set with a match-best .207 hitting percentage, while holding off the Raiders late with three of the final four points in the set.  The Raiders were able to close out the match in four sets, however, using a .324 hitting percentage and scoring five of the final seven points in the match to earn a win in their home opener.

Aaron Wendels led the way for Marian with a match-high 19 kills, while Jon Smallpage added 11.  Cullen Liberski led the back row with 12 digs, and Joey Dittman fell just short of a double-double with 33 assists and nine digs.

In the second match of the day the Sabres opened with a set win against Benedictine by a 25-22 score.  MU would hit .412 in the set with 18 kills to only four errors and used a 7-3 run at the end of the set to clinch the win.

The Eagles bounced back, however, to take the next three sets for the match win.  Benedictine would score the final six points of set two, seven of the final nine points in set three, and four of the final six points in set four.

Both front rows played well at the net with Marian blocking seven attacks and the Eagles blocking 11.

Wendels and Smallpage both put together strong performances once again to lead the Sabre offense with a match-high 17 and 16 kills, respectively.  Wendels also had 10 digs to complete his double-double, while Liberski had a match-high 11 digs.

Marian will next host Robert Morris (Ill.) Monday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. in their home opener.

--FightBlueFight--