RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Marian University men’s volleyball (16-8, 7-5 NACC) won its final match of the regular season defeating Concordia Chicago 17-25, 25-18, 27-25, 15-25, and 15-10.
- Needing a win to earn a spot in the NACC Tournament, Concordia Chicago jumped out to a 10-5 lead to open the match.
- Marian would score four unanswered points near the end of the set to build momentum heading into the second.
- Despite the late push, Concordia Chicago took another significant lead, this time 6-1, to begin the second set.
- Marian finally found a rhythm going on a 6-1 spurt of their own to tie the set at 2-2.
- Each side had extended runs but it was the Sabres who were able to lead 20-18 and score five unanswered points to even the sets.
- The third set proved to be the most competitive set with neither side leading by more than three points.
- Marian trailed 24-22 late but scored three straight to lead 25-24.
- After the Cougars staved off one set-point chance, Marian used a block and a kill to take a 2-1 lead.
- CUC built an early 13-10 lead to open the fourth and kept the match alive in large part to an 8-2 run that followed.
- Marian was able to get out to a strong start for the first time in the match in the fifth and never trailed in the set.
- At 6-5 Marian, the Sabres went on a quick 4-1 run that proved to be the difference.
- The Cougars were able to trim that deficit down to two at 11-9, but Marian would score four of the final five points to secure the win.
