VOLLEYBALL

The top-seeded Marian Knights brought an end to the 8th-seeded Forester volleyball team’s season Saturday night at the MU PE Center by handing their visitors a 3-0 loss, 25-17, 25-12, 25-17, in the quarterfinals of the Crossroads League Tournament.

With this win, Marian, ranked 6th nationally, improves to 30-1 on the season. Of MU’s 30 victories, all but four have been sweeps.

“Tonight we struggled defensively,” said Coach Kelsey Herber. “Marian did a great job of reading our defense and hitting the open spot on the floor. This game is all about adjustments, and we need to learn to make those quickly and constantly.

“I thought our attackers did a good job of hitting shots and that our backcourt communicated with them effectively about where to hit.”

The Knights were incredibly efficient on this given night to log 47 kills and a .471 hitting percentage while limiting Herber and crew to 28 kills on the night. Marian also posted a 7-3 blocking advantage but the Foresters’ claimed the edge behind the line, committing just five service errors to MU’s ten.

Morgan Robrock organized the offense for HU by handing out 23 assists with De’Janea Johnson her favorite target. The 5-8 outside hitter finished with nine kills. Abby Robinson put down five while Tya Bynum and Lindsay Ingenito tallied four kills apiece. Robinson teamed up with Hannah Maier to take charge of the backline with each tracking down eight digs.

For her seniors Maier and Ingenito, Herber had nothing but praise. “Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel towards our seniors. How they’ve impacted the court and this program is inspiring.

“However, it is who they are as people that makes this transition so challenging. Their names may no longer be on our roster, but they will always be a part of this HUVB family.”

Herber and crew close out the year with an overall record of 14-21.