(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) CHAMPAIGN, ILL – The Marquette University volleyball team (3-4) fell to Illinois (5-3) in five sets Sunday afternoon at Huff Hall.
Carson Tyler led the Marquette attack with a match-high 17 kills while hitting .255 and added 12 digs for a double-double, along with two service aces and two blocks. Emma Parks followed with 12 kills and four blocks, while Molly Welge contributed six kills and a team-high six blocks. Keira Schmidt and Tani Juric each added five kills, with Schmidt recording three blocks and Juric adding five digs and two blocks. Luanna Markus directed the offense with 38 assists and nine digs, while Emi Juric led the Golden Eagles with a career-high 18 digs.
Illinois used an early run to take control of the opening set, breaking a 3-3 tie with five straight points for an 8-3 advantage. Marquette battled back behind Tyler, who recorded five kills in the frame, and pulled within three at 14-11, but Illinois answered with three consecutive points to regain momentum. The Golden Eagles later climbed within four at 18-14 on a kill from Keira Schmidt before Illinois closed the frame on a 7-1 run to take the opening set, 25-15.
Illinois jumped out to an early advantage in the second set, using a 6-0 run to build a 7-1 lead. Tyler ended the run with a kill, while Keira Schmidt added a pair of kills as Marquette worked to cut into the deficit. The Golden Eagles later scored consecutive points to make it 17-9 and Tani Juric added a kill late in the frame, but Illinois maintained control and took the second set, 25-11.
Marquette responded with a strong third set, battling through 12 ties and six lead changes before closing out the frame. The Golden Eagles used consecutive kills from Tyler and Molly Welge followed by a Tyler service ace to turn a 14-12 deficit into a 15-14 lead. Illinois pulled even at 21, but Marquette answered down the stretch as Emma Parks delivered kills for both the 23rd and 24th points. After Illinois held off set point and took a 25-24 lead, Marquette scored the final three points, with Parks contributing to blocks on each point, to claim the third set, 27-25.
Marquette carried its momentum into the fourth set, racing out to a 7-2 lead behind kills from Molly Welge, Carson Tyler and Luanna Markus and service aces from Avery Helms and Tyler. The Golden Eagles continued to surge, stretching the advantage to 13-3 before Illinois cut the margin to 14-9. Marquette answered with a 7-1 run, highlighted by kills from Tani Juric, Tyler and Welge and multiple blocks at the net, to push the lead to 21-10. Illinois made a late push, but Tyler stopped the run with a kill before Markus finished off the set, 25-18, to force a decisive fifth set.
Marquette overcame an early deficit in the fifth set, using a 6-0 run to turn a 7-5 deficit into an 11-7 advantage. Tani Juric and Parks each recorded kills during the surge, while Schmidt and Juric combined for a block. Illinois responded with seven straight points to move ahead 14-11, but Parks answered with a kill and the Golden Eagles pulled within one at 14-13. Illinois then secured the final point to take the fifth set, 15-13, and the match in five sets.
NOTES
- MU falls to 2-7 all-time against the Illini
- Carson Tyler recorded her second-straight double-double, finishing with 17 kills and 12 digs
- Emma Parks tied her career-high with four blocks
- Emi Juric notched a career-best 18 digs
- Avery Helms recorded a career-high 12 digs
- Molly Welge blocked a career-high six attacks
UP NEXT
Marquette heads to Madison this Thursday, Sept. 17 for a 7 p.m. CT matchup with Wisconsin. Thursday’s match will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network.
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