Redettes toe line to block Esky spikers
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ESCANABA -- Marquette remained unbeaten in the Great Northern Conference after beating Escanaba 3-0 here Thursday night.
An impressive balanced attack was the key for Marquette's third straight GNC win, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19.
The Redettes got off to a slow start in the opening set and were down 7-1 before a host of blocks and front line attacks turned the match around.
The taller MSHS front line started to take control of the opening set winning 13 of the next 16 points.
Escanaba coach Adam Lambert said the turning point in the match was the first set Redette stretch of net play. Lambert noted their overall strength up front and team depth.
"When they started blocking in the first set, that was tough for us," said Lambert.
"We were taken back a bit and have not seen that much this year. We knew Marquette would be good and they were."
Marquette (3-0 GNC, 5-0 overall) utilized contributions from many players in the win and were led by freshman Seiler Hruska with 12 kills, four aces and two blocks.
"We've been playing strong all year and I can move everybody around and everybody contributes," said Marquette coach Mike Morgan.
"Seiler is just so strong and has played with these older girls in camps and travel club teams through the years."
Other Marquette blockers up front included Delaney Sail, Madison Carter and Avery Ledy with two blocks each and numerous deflections of Esky front line attacks.
Marquette trailed early in the second set before going on a 10-3 scoring run keyed by three kills from Hruska and solid serving runs from Carter and Hruska.
"Esky does a great job keeping the ball in play and we had to pick up our game in all the sets," said Morgan.
"This is the biggest team, height-wise, Marquette has ever had. Everybody supports each other and the players have a fire in their belly. What more can a coach ask for."
The Redettes closed out the straight sets win turning an 18-18 third set deadlock into a commanding 25-19 final set margin.
Escanaba (5-2) was led by senior team leader Lexi Challier, who had another solid performance with a match-high 16 kills. Paxton Johnson contributed six kills and Kaitlyn Lord with 25 assists led the Eskymos.
"We will bounce back," said Lambert.
"We served better tonight and are still finding out what lineups are best for us. We play them again in October at their place and we look forward to that. We will play better."
The summary:
Marquette – Hruska (12 kills, 4 aces, 2 blocks); Maiya King (24 assists); Aspen Michelin (11 digs), Sail (2 blocks), Carter (2 blocks), Ledy (2 blocks).
Escanaba – Challier (16 kills, 4 blocks); Tess Anderson (17 assists); Johnson (6 kills, 1 block); Lord (25 assists, 2 aces), Jalin Olson (2 aces, 11 digs). Gabriela Stalboerger (2 kills, 1 dig), Taylor Ray (2 kills, 4 digs). Madison Block (2 kills)