Marquette opens season with sweep of Illinois State

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE – The No. 20 Marquette University women's volleyball team swept Illinois State (25-19, 25-23, 25-21) at the Al McGuire Center on Friday evening in its first match since the fall of 2019.

The Golden Eagles (1-0) were led by senior Taylor Wolf's triple double, while Hope Werch and Hannah Vanden Berg each notched nine kills on the evening. Wolf, a transfer from Green Bay, posted 10 kills, 16 assists, 11 digs and three blocks in her first game wearing Blue and Gold.

Wolf paced all players in the opening frame with five kills as Marquette hit .250 on its way to a 25-19 victory. The Golden Eagles led by as many as eight points in the set and held the Redbirds to a negative hitting percentage (-.029).

Marquette trailed most of the second set before rallying for eight of the final 10 points and a 25-23 set triumph. Vanden Berg led MU with five kills, while Werch posted four on as many swings. Claire Neussmeier recorded a big block to tie things at 22 and Marquette closed out the frame on a Wolf kill.

Neussmeier was a big reason for Marquette's 25-21 win in the final frame as the native of St. Peter, Minnesota posted three kills and was responsible for four blocks.

The Redbirds (0-1) were led by 13 kills from Kaylee Martin.

The Golden Eagles return to the Al McGuire Center against Illinois State on Saturday at 1 p.m. The match will stream live on GoMarquette.com/watch with Patrick Reed (play-by-play) and Michelle Griffin-Wenzel on the call. Live stats will also be available.

Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).