Friday, December 6
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University of Utah
25-6,14-4Big 12
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Volleyball Beats No. 17 Utah to Reach Third NCAA Sweet 16
12/6/2024 9:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Box ScoreBox Score (PDF)NCAA Bracket (PDF)NCAA Interactive BracketHighlights (YouTube)Postmatch Presser (YouTube) Photo Gallery
The Golden Eagles advance to the NCAA Regional Semifinals
NCAA Bracket (PDF) | Interactive Bracket | Box Score (PDF)
YouTube: Highlights (ESPN+) | Postgame Presser
SALT LAKE CITY – The Marquette University women's volleyball team held off No. 17 Utah in five sets, 25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 24-26, 15-12, to advance to the program's third Sweet 16 on Friday evening at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
The Golden Eagles (25-8) defeated a seeded host for the first time. MU's previous two NCAA regional semifinal appearances came off Round of 32 victories at the Al McGuire Center in 2018 and 2022.
"Our theme of the weekend was that you need six good sets to advance," said head coach Ryan Theis. "We just kept counting down; it was one, it was two, it was three, then it was four, five. Then the sixth one took a while. I said after four (tonight)—we lost the lead; we were up 22-20 and we lost it—and I said that a young team would be distraught, a young team would be disappointed, a young team would not be able to rebound. But that's not this group. And so, if this senior group was going to go out, we said it's not going to be tonight. They did it, they earned it, just an impressive effort by so many of our players against a really good team."
Outside hitters Aubrey Hamilton and Natalie Ring had 20 and 16 kills, respectively, as MU pulled out the final frame, 15-12, after surrendering a 23-19 lead in a fourth set loss.
"We definitely wanted to keep playing together," MU setter Yadhira Anchante said. "I think because it's our last year, we just want to go as far as we can. Now we get to play in the Sweet Sixteen…We're just going through every game thinking this could be our last game. That motivates us more."
The MU defense logged 90 digs in the match, led by 25 from Anchante and 21 from sophomore libero Molly Berezowitz to tie a career high.
"Our block was so good," Berezowitz said. "Behind our block, behind Aubrey (Hamilton), I felt like it was just tunneling right to me. I remember thinking when I was getting the digs, 'that was such a good block touch.' I would say our block touches really handled (Lauren Jardine of Utah). And we just picked up so many tips, which is what we needed to do."
Utah (25-6) used its block to claim the third and fourth sets and notched 17.0 total team blocks on the night, led by 11 from Emrie Satuala, while Lauren Jardine had eight and a team-best 17 kills.
The win is MU's 11th all-time in NCAA tournament action and the team's fifth in the last three years, marking a program-best over such a stretch.
NOTABLE:
YouTube: Highlights (ESPN+) | Postgame Presser
SALT LAKE CITY – The Marquette University women's volleyball team held off No. 17 Utah in five sets, 25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 24-26, 15-12, to advance to the program's third Sweet 16 on Friday evening at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
The Golden Eagles (25-8) defeated a seeded host for the first time. MU's previous two NCAA regional semifinal appearances came off Round of 32 victories at the Al McGuire Center in 2018 and 2022.
"Our theme of the weekend was that you need six good sets to advance," said head coach Ryan Theis. "We just kept counting down; it was one, it was two, it was three, then it was four, five. Then the sixth one took a while. I said after four (tonight)—we lost the lead; we were up 22-20 and we lost it—and I said that a young team would be distraught, a young team would be disappointed, a young team would not be able to rebound. But that's not this group. And so, if this senior group was going to go out, we said it's not going to be tonight. They did it, they earned it, just an impressive effort by so many of our players against a really good team."
Outside hitters Aubrey Hamilton and Natalie Ring had 20 and 16 kills, respectively, as MU pulled out the final frame, 15-12, after surrendering a 23-19 lead in a fourth set loss.
"We definitely wanted to keep playing together," MU setter Yadhira Anchante said. "I think because it's our last year, we just want to go as far as we can. Now we get to play in the Sweet Sixteen…We're just going through every game thinking this could be our last game. That motivates us more."
The MU defense logged 90 digs in the match, led by 25 from Anchante and 21 from sophomore libero Molly Berezowitz to tie a career high.
"Our block was so good," Berezowitz said. "Behind our block, behind Aubrey (Hamilton), I felt like it was just tunneling right to me. I remember thinking when I was getting the digs, 'that was such a good block touch.' I would say our block touches really handled (Lauren Jardine of Utah). And we just picked up so many tips, which is what we needed to do."
Utah (25-6) used its block to claim the third and fourth sets and notched 17.0 total team blocks on the night, led by 11 from Emrie Satuala, while Lauren Jardine had eight and a team-best 17 kills.
The win is MU's 11th all-time in NCAA tournament action and the team's fifth in the last three years, marking a program-best over such a stretch.
NOTABLE:
- MU has 101 wins over the last four seasons (2021-24) to tie this span with 2011-14 and 2016-19 for the best four-year stretch in program history.
- MU is now 11-12 all-time in NCAA tournament play with eight trips to the second round and a three trips to the regional semifinals in 2018, 2022 and now 2024.
- With the win, Marquette is 1-7 against seeded host teams (Overall Nos. 1-through-16 (regional 1-4 seeds)).
- Ella Foti and Carsen Murray, each of whom were with the program since the spring of 2021, have witnessed 111 victories on the MU sideline (10, 26, 29, 21, 25 wins).
- Marquette is 26-57 all-time against current members of the Big 12. MU was previously conference mates with West Virginia (BIG EAST), Cincinnati (BIG EAST), Houston (Conference USA) and TCU (C-USA).
- The Utes tied with Baylor for third in the Big 12 regular season standings at 14-4 and were on an eight-match winning streak. Their 25 victories are the most for a Utah squad since 2005.
- Head coach Beth Launiere's 2015 Utah team was swept by an Ohio squad led by then-senior setter and current MU assistant coach Abby Gilleland on Sept. 12, 2015, in Louisville's Active Ankle Challenge. Gilleland had 36 assists, seven digs, a block and ace and two kills as the Bobcats hit .254 and held the Utes to a mark of .099.
Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).
Team Stats
Marq
Utah
Kills
67
56
Errors
39
24
Attempts
184
181
Hitting %
.152
.177
Points
79.0
80.0
Assists
64
53
Aces
5
7
Blocks
7
17
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
20
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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