VB Falls in BIG EAST Semifinals to No. 12 Creighton

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Marquette University women's volleyball team (17-10, 11-5 BIG EAST) fell in straight sets to No. 12 Creighton (24-5, 16-0 BIG EAST) Saturday afternoon in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals at the Al McGuire Center.

Natalie Ring paced Marquette's attack with a team-high 13 kills on .258 hitting, adding three digs. Elena Radeff chipped in six kills and a block assist, while Hattie Bray provided six kills and two aces. Emma Parks added five kills, and setter Isabela Haggard ran the offense with 30 assists, three kills, and two block assists. Despite strong individual efforts, Marquette hit .170 as a team with 16 errors and seven service miscues in the sweep.

Marquette started strong in Set 1, taking a 7–6 lead behind two aces from Bray and early kills from Ring and Radeff. However, the Golden Eagles couldn't sustain momentum, committing seven attack errors and two service errors as Creighton surged ahead with a 5–0 run. Ring led Marquette with five kills in the frame, while Bray added two aces and a kill, but the Bluejays closed on an 8–3 stretch to take the opener, 25-19.

Marquette battled hard in the second set, erasing an early deficit and even holding three set points late. The Golden Eagles rallied from 12–8 down after a Creighton run to tie the frame at 16–16, sparked by kills from Ring and Bray. Ring posted five kills in the set, while Bray added three and setter Isabela Haggard chipped in a kill and multiple assists. Marquette led 24–23 and 25–24 but couldn't convert, as Creighton's Ava Martin delivered clutch swings to close it out. Despite strong defense and timely kills, service errors (five in the set) and late execution hurt MU and Creighton won set two, 28-26.

Marquette fought to extend the match in Set 3, trading points early and pulling even at 15–15 after kills from Ring and Parks. Ring led the way again with five kills in the frame, while Haggard added a kill and multiple assists to keep MU close. The Golden Eagles erased a late 22–20 deficit to tie at 23–23, but three attack errors down the stretch proved costly. Despite strong blocking and clutch swings to stay alive, Marquette couldn't convert as Creighton closed the set on back-to-back points and took the final set, 25-23, and the match in straight sets.