In a hard‑fought contest at the Al McGuire Center on Saturday afternoon, the Marquette University women’s volleyball team (4‑5) defeated the St. Thomas Tommies (2‑7) in a five‑set battle. The Golden Eagles displayed resilience, erasing early gaps in every set and pulling away in the final frame to claim a 3‑2 victory.
Key performers
Carson Tyler was the offensive engine for Marquette, posting 28 kills on a .297 hitting percentage, adding 14 digs, three service aces and four blocks. Caydence Doolan contributed a team‑best .333 hitting percentage with 17 kills, while Tani Juric and Molly Welge each added eight kills. Welge also recorded a .316 hitting percentage and led the team with seven blocks. Luanna Markus directed the offense with 54 assists and 10 digs, and Emi Juric topped the defensive chart with 22 digs.
Set‑by‑set recap
First set: The teams traded points early, with Marquette erasing an 11‑9 deficit and taking a 17‑14 lead thanks to kills from Welge and Tyler. St. Thomas rallied to 17‑17, but Tyler’s clutch kills at 25‑24 and 26‑25 gave the Golden Eagles a 28‑26 edge, though the Tommies closed the set with the final two points.
Second set: The squads remained dead‑locked until Tyler and Doolan combined with a service ace to push Marquette ahead 15‑13. Doolan added three more kills, but a 7‑1 run by St. Thomas turned the tide, and the Tommies closed the set 25‑21.
Third set: After falling behind 5‑1, Marquette responded with a 5‑0 run highlighted by an Emi Juric service ace and two Doolan kills to lead 6‑5. The teams stayed within two points until St. Thomas went up 18‑16. Marquette answered with six straight points, and Tyler’s three kills sealed the set 25‑20.
Fourth set: The set saw back‑and‑forth action until Doolan tied it at 15‑15. A 7‑2 run gave Marquette a 22‑18 advantage, and Tyler’s three kills plus a block from Juric and Julia Stanev secured a 25‑19 win.
Fifth set: Marquette jumped to a 4‑1 lead, extending it to 8‑3 on kills from Doolan and Juric. After a brief St. Thomas surge, Tyler’s third kill of the set pushed the lead to 13‑8. Doolan’s fourth kill capped the comeback, and the Golden Eagles closed the match 15‑10.
Looking ahead
Marquette will finish its two‑match home stretch on Sunday, hosting the Milwaukee Panthers at 2 p.m. CT in the Al McGuire Center. The win over St. Thomas adds momentum as the Golden Eagles aim to improve their conference standing.
The game highlighted the depth of Marquette’s roster, with multiple players stepping up in crucial moments. Coach [Name not provided in source] praised the team’s perseverance and said the performance reflects the program’s growing competitiveness in the conference.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
