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Marquette Volleyball Sweeps Western Kentucky in NCAA First Round

Courtesy of Marquette Athletic Communications
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Marquette University women's volleyball team (18-10, 11-5 BIG EAST) swept away seven-seed Western Kentucky (27-6, 15-1 CUSA) Friday afternoon in the NCAA Tournament First Round at the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. 

Natalie Ring led the Golden Eagles with 16 kills, while Emma Parks eclipsed her career-high with 12 kills. Hattie Bray added 11 kills and three blocks, while setter Isabela Haggard recorded a double-double with 34 assists and 11 digs and Adrianna Studer collected 11 digs.

Both teams traded points early, with the power arms for the squads leading the way. After being tied at seven each, Ring, Bray, and Parks powered the MU offense with a trio of kills each, with a Parks finisher putting the Golden Eagles ahead 15-12 at the media timeout. MU kept the momentum, with a 3-0 run fueled by a Mari King ace, and Bray tallied another kill and an ace to put the Golden Eagles up 23-18. A Parks kill gave Marquette the set, 25-22, and a 1-0 lead in the match. 

WKU started hot in the second, using a balanced attack to lead 4-2 early. MU roared back with a 4-0 run, powered by a pair of kills from Parks, to force a Hilltopper timeout and lead, 6-4. Western Kentucky settled in and knotted the match, where each team went back-and-forth for a large portion of the set. MU used a pair of kills from Ring to be the first to 20, and another kill from Ring along and kills from Bray and Keira Schmidt put the Golden Eagles up, 23-20. Another Ring kill, her 13th of the night, and a Parks kill gave MU the 25-21 set two win and a 2-0 match lead. 

WKU again started with momentum in the third, but the strong attack of Bray and Ring powered MU to a 3-0 run and forcing a Hilltopper timeout, leading 11-9. The Golden Eagles began to roll, with Parks and the strong MU block powering the Golden Eagles to a 25-16 set three win, and a victory via the sweep.

NOTABLES       

  • Natalie Ring extended her double-digit kills streak to 31 with 16 today, hitting the mark in every match since 11/30/2024. 
  • Natalie Ring tied her career-high in assists with three. 
  • Isabela Haggard recorded a double-double of 34 assists and 11 digs, her 10th of the season.
  • Emma Parks established a new career-high of 12 kills.
  • Hattie Bray set a new MU NCAA Tournament record in hitting percentage, hitting .786 (11 kills-14 attempts, 0 errors).
  • MU improved to 12-13 all-time in NCAA tournament play since making its debut appearance in 2011, and 9-5 in the opening round. 
  • With the win, MU advanced to the second round for the ninth time in program history. 
  • MU will look to advance to the Regional Semifinals for the fourth time in program history tomorrow evening, and for the first time ever in back-to-back seasons. 

UP NEXT      

MU advances to face the winner of Loyola-Chicago and No. 9 Louisville tomorrow evening, Dec. 6, at 5:00 p.m. CT.