MU Opens League Play with a Sweep at Butler

Sept. 20, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Marquette women's volleyball opened BiG EAST Conference play on a high note with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-20) victory at Butler Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Junior Anna Haak produced a Marquette career high with 13 kills to lead the Golden Eagles (7-5, 1-0), while classmate Jenna Rosenthal recorded 12 kills with just one error to hit .550. Freshman Hope Werch and sophomore Allie Barber connected on eight and seven kills, respectively.

Defensively freshman Martha Konovodoff and senior Manon Geoffroy collected double digits digs with 15 and 10, while sophomore setter Lauren Speckman handed out 40 assists.

"It was a great team effort tonight," head coach Ryan Theis said. "We had some low spots early in the second and third sets, but we dug out of the hole to get the win.

"I thought Jenna (Rosenthal) was big, not only from a points perspective, but she made some really smart plays and block moves at the net throughout the night."

Marquette took the first two sets, but had to overcome a deficit in each to pull out the win. Both sets were won with a 25-21 score after the Bulldogs led in the middle of the set. In the third frame, MU got on the board first and held a 3-1 lead before Butler took a 13-10 lead in the middle of the set. The Golden Eagles fought back and remained close until a kill from Haak put MU in front, 17-16, and the Golden Eagles did not relinquish the lead again, finishing to a 25-20 win and a match win in straight sets.

Butler (10-3, 0-1) was led by Anna Logan with 11 kills, while Bri Lilly notched 10.

Marquette has now won nine of 10 matches against the Bulldogs since Butler became a member of the BIG EAST.

The Golden Eagles return home and welcome Seton Hall and St. John's to the Al on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Friday's match against the Pirates will air live on the BIG EAST Digital Network at 7 p.m. Central time.