Marquette University
Butler
10/23/2026 10:25:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Golden Eagles will finish BIG EAST play with six of their eight matches at the Al McGuire Center.
The Marquette University volleyball team (12-6, 7-1 BIG EAST) will begin a season-long four-match homestand this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25. The Golden Eagles will first welcome Butler (10-10, 4-4 BIG EAST) this Saturday for a 1 p.m. CT first serve, and will host Xavier (12-7, 5-3 BIG EAST) on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. Both matches will stream live on ESPN+ from the Al McGuire Center.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Eagles continued their surge atop the BIG EAST standings with their second-straight 2-0 weekend on conference action. MU extended their season-best winning streak to five with sweeps of St. John's and Seton Hall last Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17.
MU started the weekend with a 25-19, 25-14, 26-24 sweep of St. John's on Oct. 16 at Carnesecca Arena. Carson Tyler led all players with 16 kills, while Luanna Markus dished out 38 assists and Emi Juric recorded a match-high 20 digs as the Golden Eagles held the Red Storm to a season-low .048 hitting percentage in BIG EAST play. Marquette's defense also limited conference scoring leader Carola Tesoro to eight kills and a -.034 hitting percentage, while Tani Juric added nine kills and four blocks in the victory.
The Golden Eagles continued their winning ways on Oct. 17 with a 25-14, 25-14, 25-22 sweep of Seton Hall in South Orange, N.J. Carson Tyler led all players with 16 kills and eight digs, while Tani Juric added 15 kills on .452 hitting and Emma Parks contributed 10 kills as the Golden Eagles hit .346 as a team and held advantages in kills (51-27), hitting percentage (.346-.159), digs (42-29) and blocks (6-4). Luanna Markus directed the offense with 42 assists, Emi Juric posted a team-high 11 digs and two aces, and Molly Welge chipped in five kills on .625 hitting as Marquette won its fifth straight match and completed a weekend road sweep.
RPI CHECK-IN
Marquette enters the week at No. 45 in the NCAA Adjusted RPI with a 12-6 overall record and a 7-1 mark in BIG EAST play, through matches Oct. 18. MU has risen from No. 91 in the first NCAA RPI rankings on Sept. 29. The Golden Eagles have built their résumé with wins over RPI No. 42 Creighton, No. 30 Illinois and No. 57 Wright State, while posting a 3-1 record against teams currently ranked between 51-100. The Golden Eagles own four road or neutral-site victories, highlighted by a five-set win at Creighton on Oct. 4.
The BIG EAST features six teams inside the top 100 of the RPI (Creighton No. 42, Marquette No. 45, DePaul No. 52, Villanova No. 32, Xavier No. 71 and Georgetown No. 94), and Marquette has already faced and defeated four of those top-100 conference opponents through its first eight league matches.
BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS
Marquette enjoyed another pair of conference honors on Oct. 19 as freshmen Luanna Markus (Setter of the Week) and junior Carson Tyler (Offensive Player of the Week) were recognized for their performances in victories over Georgetown and Villanova. Marquette has earned 11 BIG EAST weekly awards through the season's first eight weeks, including at least one honoree in seven of the eight award announcements. From the BIG EAST weekly release below...
"Tyler earns her fourth BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week nod after powering the Golden Eagles to road sweeps of St. John's and Seton Hall. She averaged a conference-leading 5.33 kills and 5.67 points per ser set for the week, contributing a match-high 16 kills in each outing."
"Markus led Marquette's offense, contributing a league-leading 13.33 assists per set, as the Golden Eagles swept St. John's and Seton Hall. Additionally, she logged 12 digs, five blocks, three kills, and two aces. Her efforts helped Marquette to a conference-high .275 hitting percentage and 15.33 kills per set average."
TYLER AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Junior outside hitter Carson Tyler has emerged as one of the nation's premier attackers, leading the BIG EAST and ranking 20th nationally in kills per set (4.31) and 11th nationally in points per set (5.13). She also ranks 17th nationally and third in the BIG EAST in aces per set (0.57) while sitting second in the conference in both total kills (293) and total points. Tyler has recorded double-digit kills in 17 of Marquette's 18 matches this season and enters the weekend after posting 16 kills in back-to-back road victories at St. John's and Seton Hall.
MARKUS RUNNING THE OFFENSE
Freshman setter Luanna Markus has been one of the league's top newcomers, leading the BIG EAST in both total assists (667) and assists per set (9.81). Markus ranks 60th nationally in assists per set and has recorded at least 30 assists in 16 of 18 matches this season. Her ability to distribute the ball has helped Marquette lead the BIG EAST in team hitting percentage and consistently place multiple attackers among the conference's offensive leaders.
THE BIG EAST'S TOP HITTING TEAM
Marquette enters the week leading the BIG EAST and ranking 67th nationally in hitting percentage (.243). The Golden Eagles have hit .300 or better in six matches and are coming off a weekend in which they hit .209 against St. John's and .346 against Seton Hall. MU has four regulars averaging at least 2.0 kills per set and continues to rank among the conference leaders in both kills and assists.
WELGE CONTROLS THE NET
Freshman middle blocker Molly Welge ranks third in the BIG EAST and 72nd nationally in blocks per set (1.21) while her 81 total blocks rank among the conference leaders. Welge has recorded at least one block in every match this season and has developed into an efficient offensive weapon, hitting .294 while adding 109 kills. She leads a Marquette blocking unit that ranks fifth in the BIG EAST and 105th nationally in blocks per set (2.21).
TANI'S EMERGENCE
Freshman outside hitter Tani Juric has become one of Marquette's most consistent offensive options, ranking second on the team with 168 kills. Juric has produced double-digit kills in five of her last six matches, including a career-high 17 against Villanova and 15 on .452 hitting at Seton Hall. During Marquette's current five-match winning streak, she is averaging nearly three kills per set and has provided a reliable complement to Tyler on the outside.
EMI HOLDS DOWN THE BACK ROW
Freshman libero Emi Juric leads the team with 245 digs and ranks among the BIG EAST leaders in total digs. She has recorded double-digit digs in 15 matches this season and recently posted 20 digs against St. John's before following with 11 more at Seton Hall. Juric's defensive presence has helped Marquette hold opponents below .200 hitting in nine matches this year.
SERVING UP PRESSURE
The Golden Eagles continue to be one of the conference's most effective serving teams, ranking third in the BIG EAST and 92nd nationally in aces per set (1.62) with 110 total aces. Tyler leads the squad with 39 aces, while Emi Juric, Avery Helms and Allie Beers have all reached double figures. Marquette has recorded at least five aces in seven matches this season and used key service runs to fuel victories over both St. John's and Seton Hall last weekend.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
Marquette's defense has fueled its climb up the conference standings. The Golden Eagles held St. John's to a .048 hitting percentage, the Red Storm's lowest mark in BIG EAST play this season and the lowest by any MU opponent all year. They followed that effort by limiting Seton Hall to .159 hitting, meaning opponents combined to hit just .100 during the two-match road trip.
ROLLING THROUGH BIG EAST PLAY
After opening league play 2-1, Marquette has won five straight matches to improve to 7-1 in the BIG EAST. The Golden Eagles have swept four of their last five opponents and are now a perfect 10-0 in three-set matches this season. During the current winning streak, MU has dropped only two sets and has outscored opponents by more than two points per set.
FRESHMEN DRIVING THE SUCCESS
Few teams in the country rely on freshmen as heavily as Marquette. Markus leads the BIG EAST in assists, Welge ranks third in the conference in blocks per set, Emi Juric leads the team in digs and Tani Juric ranks second in kills. That freshman core has helped the Golden Eagles compile a 12-6 overall record and put themselves firmly in the hunt near the top of the BIG EAST standings.
ROAD WARRIORS
Marquette has thrived away from Milwaukee this season despite one of the nation's toughest travel schedules. The Golden Eagles opened the year by playing 11 of their first 14 matches away from home and have responded by winning six of their last seven true road contests, including consecutive sweeps at St. John's and Seton Hall. MU is 7-1 in BIG EAST play after playing six of its first eight conference matches on the road.
SWEEP SUCCESS
The Golden Eagles have been dominant when matches stay short. Marquette is a perfect 10-0 in three-set matches this season and has claimed sweeps in four of its last five victories. Nine of MU's 12 wins have come in straight sets, including road sweeps of conference contenders St. John's and Seton Hall.
ATTACKING BALANCE
Marquette's offense has become increasingly difficult to defend as the season has progressed. Carson Tyler ranks first on the team with 293 kills, while Tani Juric (168), Molly Welge (109), Emma Parks and Caydence Doolan have all provided significant offensive contributions. The Golden Eagles have featured at least three players with double-digit kills in multiple matches this season, including Saturday's win at Seton Hall.
PROTECTING THE NET
Defense at the net has become a hallmark of Marquette's success. The Golden Eagles rank fifth in the BIG EAST with 2.21 blocks per set, led by Molly Welge's 81 total blocks. MU has recorded at least six team blocks in seven of its last nine matches and matched St. John's with eight blocks during last week's road sweep.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Al McGuire Center has been a true advantage for Marquette this season. The Golden Eagles are a perfect 5-0 at home, including a 2-0 mark in BIG EAST play, and have outscored opponents by nearly six points per set while winning 16 of 18 sets played in Milwaukee. MU owns victories over Illinois, St. Thomas, Milwaukee, Georgetown and Villanova.
Marquette has been at its best statistically on its home floor, hitting.291 while limiting opponents to a.146 hitting percentage, a difference of.145 points. The Golden Eagles are averaging 13.78 kills, 15.11 digs, 2.75 blocks and 1.89 aces per set at home while opponents average just 10.56 kills per set and less than one ace per frame.
Marquette's defensive numbers at the Al McGuire Center have been especially impressive. The Golden Eagles are averaging 2.75 blocks per set at home, compared to opponents' 1.56, while also holding teams below a .150 hitting percentage. MU has limited four of its five home opponents to a hitting percentage below .220 and has outdug opponents 272-230 on its home court.
