Volleyball falls to Creighton in BIG EAST Championship

Box Score (PDF)

OMAHA, Nebraska – The Marquette University women's volleyball team fell in the title match of the BIG EAST Championship for the fourth-straight season, losing 3-1 to Creighton on Holy Saturday at D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha.

The Golden Eagles (10-4) let leads slip away in both the second and third sets as it looked to secure the match. After Marquette took the opening frame, 25-18, it allowed Creighton to use a 9-1 run to close the second set, 25-19. MU also led 22-16 in the third before an 8-2 Bluejay run to tie the frame at 24. The squads traded leads before Creighton claimed the third, 31-29, for the match advantage

Creighton (11-3) closed out the tournament title with a 25-22 win in the fourth set for its sixth BIG EAST crown. Jaela ZImmerman posted a match-high 16 kills, while Annika Welty and tournament Most Outstanding Player Naomi Hickman each added 12.

Taylor Wolf and Kaitlyn Lines each posted 13 kills to lead Marquette, which hit .169 as a team. Hope Werch had 10 kills and earned all-tournament honors, as did Savannah Rennie, who posted nine kills and four blocks.

The 2018 tournament was the last hosted by Creighton and the Golden Eagles fell in four sets to the Bluejays on their home court. This year marked the fourth time CU has hosted the league tournament, following events at D.J. Sokol Arena in 2013 and 2015 in addition to 2018. Marquette claimed its lone league tournament title in 2013 with 3-1 wins over Butler in the semifinals and the Jays in the title match. MU also lost in five to CU at Sokol Arena in the 2015 semis.

MU falls to 5-21 all-time against Creighton and awaits in NCAA tournament fate. The NCAA selection show is set for 3 p.m. Central time on Sunday.

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).