Marquette tops UConn, 3-1, in BIG EAST home opener

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University women's volleyball team beat the University of Connecticut in four sets, 25-22, 12-25, 25-22, 25-9, on Friday evening at the Al McGuire Center to improve to 3-0 in BIG EAST Conference action.

The Golden Eagles (12-2, 3-0 BIG EAST) were led from performances by Carsen Murray who finished with nine kills, four blocks and hit a team-high .438 (9-2-16). Redshirt sophomore Claire Nuessmeier provided key minutes off the bench, picking up a season-high four kills and two blocks in the middle.

Marquette began its BIG EAST home opener with a back-and-forth first set but forced the Huskies into as many hitting errors as kills (8-8-36) in the first set.

UConn took over in the second set, running away with a 25-12 victory, led by four kills from Kennadie Jake-Turner.

Marquette regained control after winning the third set, in huge part from Hope Werch who tallied three straight kills during a six-point unanswered Golden Eagle run. Freshman defensive specialist Jadyn Garrison also provided a spark off the Marquette bench as a serving sub for Nuessmeier. The Woodbury, Minnesota native served a 5-0 run herself midway through the frame and contributed a pair of big digs during her time on the court.

It was all Golden Eagles in the final set, going on six-point and 10-point runs to close out the visiting Huskies.

Jake-Turner led the Huskies (10-5, 0-3 BIG EAST) with 10 kills and hit .444 (10-2-18). UConn hit .119 (42-26-135) for the match.

Marquette has taken four of the seven all-time matches between the two programs and MU travels to Storrs, Connecticut for a rematch on Oct. 23.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles head to Chicago on Sunday to take on DePaul at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Opening serve is set for 3 p.m. on the BIG EAST Digital Network through FloSports.

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).