Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
St. Thomas
VB Wraps Non-Conference Action at Home with St. Thomas, Milwaukee
9/18/2026 3:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Golden Eagles head home for the first weekend in 2026.
The Marquette University volleyball team (3-5) will wrap up non-conference action this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20, at the Al McGuire Center for a pair of home matches. MU hosts St. Thomas on Saturday, and will welcome cross-town foe Milwaukee on Sunday. Both matches on each day will begin at 2 p.m. CT, and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
Marquette fell to No. 6 Wisconsin in four sets Thursday evening at the UW Fieldhouse, 22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15. The Golden Eagles claimed the opening set, 25-22, before the Badgers won the final three frames. Carson Tyler led Marquette with 16 kills and added eight digs, two blocks and two service aces, extending her double-digit kill streak to all eight matches this season. Luanna Markus recorded 29 assists, five digs, four kills and three blocks, while Molly Welge posted a career-high seven blocks. Emi Juric paced MU with 10 digs and added a career-high six assists and two aces as the Golden Eagles out-aced Wisconsin, 8-6.
HISTORY VS. ST. THOMAS/MILWAUKEE
Marquette and St. Thomas have met just once previously, with the Golden Eagles holding a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series. The lone meeting came on Sept. 13, 1985, when Marquette earned a 3-0 victory over the Tommies at a neutral site. Friday's matchup will mark the first meeting between the programs in 41 years.
Marquette owns a 38-46-1 all-time record against Milwaukee in a series that dates back to 1975. The Golden Eagles have dominated the recent series, winning 15 consecutive regular-season meetings dating back to 2008. MU last defeated the Panthers, 3-0, on Sept. 14, 2025. Marquette has won 13 of its last 14 regular-season meetings with Milwaukee dating back to 2004, with its only loss during that stretch coming in a 3-1 setback on Oct. 10, 2006. The Golden Eagles are 21-17 against Milwaukee at home and 11-12-1 on the road.
SCOUTING THE TOMMIES/PANTHERS
St. Thomas enters Saturday with a 2-5 record, highlighted by victories over Montana State and Miami. The Tommies average 12.41 kills and 2.04 service aces per set, with Anya Schmidt leading the attack at 3.19 kills per set and 83 total kills. Morgan Kealy directs the offense with 250 assists (9.26/set), while Taylor McNear leads the back row with 85 digs (3.15/set). At the net, Addie Schmotzer has a team-high 28 blocks and adds 52 kills on .232 hitting.
Milwaukee enters the weekend at 5-3 and riding a five-match winning streak after opening the season with three consecutive losses. The Panthers average 12.26 kills and 2.16 blocks per set while hitting .203 as a team. Annie Eschenbach leads Milwaukee with 88 kills (2.84/set), while Josie Noble has 76 kills on .285 hitting and 32 total blocks. Kati Goba anchors the defense with 134 digs (4.32/set), and Milica Tomic leads the Panthers with 157 assists.
TYLER TAKES CHARGE
Junior outside hitter Carson Tyler has reached double figures in kills in all eight matches this season and leads Marquette with 117 kills (3.77/set), 136 points (4.39/set) and 12 service aces. Tyler has recorded at least 12 kills in every match, including 18 against Texas, 17 at Illinois and 16 at Wisconsin. She also ranks second on the team with 76 digs and has handled a team-high 161 serve-receive attempts with a .950 reception percentage.
MARKUS THE MAESTRO
Freshman setter Luanna Markus has directed the Marquette offense with 270 assists (8.71/set) through 31 sets. Markus has recorded at least 29 assists in seven of eight matches, including a career-high 39 against South Florida, 38 at Illinois and 36 at Stanford. She has also contributed 62 digs, 26 kills on .279 hitting and 20 blocks, ranking second on the team in the latter category.
EMI ANCHORS THE BACK ROW
Freshman libero Emi Juric leads Marquette with 94 digs (3.03/set) and has recorded double-digit digs in five consecutive matches. Juric posted a career-high 18 digs at Illinois before adding 10 at Wisconsin and has recorded at least eight digs in every match this season. She has also contributed 28 assists and eight aces while committing just two service errors on 122 attempts.
WELGE BUILDS A WALL AT THE NET
Freshman middle blocker Molly Welge has recorded at least three blocks in every match this season and leads the Golden Eagles with 36 total blocks (1.20/set). Welge has been particularly effective recently, totaling 13 blocks over the last two matches with six at Illinois and a career-high seven at Wisconsin. She has also contributed 41 kills and 62.5 points through 30 sets.
BLOCKS TRENDING UP
Marquette has produced 10 team blocks in each of its last two matches, matching its second-highest total of the season behind 12 against Texas. The Golden Eagles recorded 20 block assists at Wisconsin and 16 at Illinois and enter the weekend with 62 total blocks (2.00/set). Molly Welge leads MU with 36, followed by Luanna Markus with 20 and Keira Schmidt with 18.
PRESSURE FROM THE SERVICE LINE
Marquette has recorded more aces than its opponent in six of eight matches and enters the weekend with a 43-41 advantage in service aces. The Golden Eagles have also committed 38 fewer service errors than their opponents, 59-97. MU posted eight aces with only five errors at Wisconsin, its second-highest ace total of the season behind nine at Dayton.
STRONG STARTS
The Golden Eagles have been at their best in opening sets, outscoring opponents 183-167 in the first frame this season. Marquette has claimed the opening set in five of eight matches, including against each of its last two opponents, Illinois and No. 6 Wisconsin. MU also won opening sets against Texas, Wright State and South Florida.
PARKS PROVIDES OPTIONS
Sophomore Emma Parks ranks second on the team with 66 kills and is averaging 2.44 kills per set. Parks has reached double figures four times, highlighted by a career-high 13 kills on .522 hitting at Wright State. She also owns 13 blocks and recorded a career-high tying four at Illinois on Sept. 13.
MARQUETTE QUICK HITTERS
- Tyler has posted at least 12 kills in every match, including 18 against Texas, 17 at Illinois and 16 at Wisconsin.
- Tyler leads MU with 117 kills (3.77/set), 136 points (4.39/set) and 12 service aces.
- Luanna Markus has recorded 270 assists (8.71/set) and at least 29 assists in seven of eight matches.
- Markus has added 62 digs, 26 kills and 20 blocks through 31 sets.
- Emi Juric has recorded double-digit digs in five consecutive matches and leads MU with 94 digs (3.03/set).
- Juric has committed just two service errors on 122 attempts while recording eight aces.
- Molly Welge has recorded at least three blocks in every match this season.
- Welge leads MU with 36 blocks (1.20/set) and has 13 over the last two matches.
- Welge's seven blocks at Wisconsin marked a career high and the most by a Golden Eagle this season.
- Marquette has recorded 10 blocks in consecutive matches against Illinois and Wisconsin.
- Marquette has recorded more service aces than its opponent in six of eight matches.
- Marquette has outscored opponents 183-167 in the first set this season.
- The Golden Eagles have won the opening set in five of eight matches.
- Tani Juric has recorded at least seven kills in seven of eight matches and ranks third on the team with 63 kills.
- All three Marquette victories this season have come in straight sets, against Wright State, South Florida and Illinois.
- The St. Thomas and Milwaukee matches conclude Marquette's nonconference schedule before BIG EAST play begins at UConn on Sept. 25.
