Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - In their first Northern Athletics Conference match since a poor performance the Edgewood College volleyball team may have had some pent up frustration to release. Unfortunately for Marian University, they were on the receiving end. The Eagles, save for a late third set lapse, controlled the match from start to finish in a convincing 3-1 victory over the Sabres by scores of 25-19, 25-12, 21-25, 25-11.

Edgewood College (10-7, 3-1 NAC), looking to shake off memories of an ugly 3-0 loss at Wisconsin Lutheran College, wasted no time in jumping on the Sabres with a little help from net tape. Laura Sweeney served two and Lindsey Swansby served a third service ace off the top of the net in the first 13 points of the match to help build a 10-3 lead. Jessica Martin hammered home five kills in the set, including the final point which broke a 5-0 Sabre run.

The second set started closer until the Eagles began to feed Mallory Palmer. Palmer hammered home four kills in a 9-3 Eagle run which gave Edgewood College a 19-9 cushion. The junior outside hitter recently passed 1,000 career kills and moved into fifth place on the Eagles' all-time kills list. Palmer ended the set with eight kills and had 12 kills without an error through the first two sets.

The third set seemed to be more of the same and Eagle fans were preparing for a short night in the Todd Wehr Edgedome. However, Marian University (5-13, 2-1 NAC) kept them in their seats when they rallied back from 21-17 deficit by scoring the last eight points of the set and stealing a 25-21 win. The Sabres' Aileen Maier had four kills and a pair of blocks in the third set.

The Eagles wasted little time in establishing the pecking order again in the fourth set. After a Sabre error on the set's first point, Sam Himmelspach served six straight, followed by Swansby rattling off seven straight points for a commanding 14-1 lead. Palmer had three kills in the run and Kristin Manske added two. From that point on, it was a matter of time until the Eagles sealed the match with a 25-11 fourth set victory.

Palmer led all hitters with 20 kills against just four errors for a .356 hitting percentage. Martin piled up 12 kills, while Aryn Wellnitz came off the bench to score nine kills and hit .571. Katie Wedvick matched Wellnitz with nine kills of her own. Swansby racked up 47 assists and Himmelspach led the team with 16 digs.

Edgewood College will get precious little time to enjoy the win. The Eagles await a Friday showdown with defending NAC champion Dominican University. The Stars edged the Eagles for the NAC title last season and bounced them from the NAC Tournament. The match can be seen live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com beginning at 7:00 p.m.