Volleyball sweeps UNI to win Marquette Invitational

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University women's volleyball team defeated Northern Iowa in three sets (25-18, 25-14, 25-15) on Saturday evening in its final match of the Marquette Invitational.

Marquette has now won each of its last nine sets and heads into conference play 9-2 overall. The Golden Eagles finished with 11 total team blocks, which ties a season-high in a three-set match. Graduate student Savannah Rennie led the squad with six blocks and earned Marquette Invitational MVP honors for her play over the weekend.

Classmate Hope Werch finished with a team-high 12 kills and Rennie had nine. MU hit .370 on the night (44-10-92) and setter Claire Mosher, who had a match-high 16 assists, earned all-tournament honors. The Panthers (5-8) hit .077 in the contest (26-19-91), including as many hitting errors as kills in the final frame.

After being tied at 16 in the first set, the Golden Eagles went on a 9-2 run and scored the final five points to take the frame. Hannah Vanden Berg hit .667 and had four kills, while Jenna Reitsma and Hope Werch each added three.

Marquette didn't take its foot off the gas and captured a second set victory behind a .520 hitting percentage (15-2-25).

The final set was more of the same, as 14 kills and four blocks allowed Ryan Theis' squad to comfortably edge UNI to close off the Marquette Invitational on a high note.

2021 All-Marquette Invitational Team
Savannah Rennie, MB, Marquette (MVP)
Claire Mosher, S, Marquette
Celia Powers, RS, Wright State
Jenna Story, L, Wright State
Jenna Brandt, S, UNI
Kirby Smith, OH, UTSA

NEXT UP: The Golden Eagles hit the road on Friday for a meeting with the Villanova Wildcats at 6 p.m. Central time to open BIG EAST Conference play. MU also faces Georgetown in Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday.

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).