LEAD

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. -- After a third loss at the NCCAA Invitational, the Sabercats have ended the week with a flourish.

With a 3-1 win over Greenville, the Sabercats have secured their first win of the season and seventh place at the national stage.

OVERVIEW

• Results: 
  • #8 Maranatha 0-3 #5 Trinity Christian (24-26, 19-25, 22-25)
  • #8 Maranatha 3-1 #6 Greenville (20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20)
• Venue: DeVos Gymnasium, Trinity Christian College
• Location: Palos Heights, Ill.
• Attendance: 43, 51
• Records: MBU (1-4), TCC (2-2), GU (0-4)

STORY

#5 Trinity Christian: The Trolls defended their home floor with alacrity, but they met immediate resistance from the Sabercats in the first set. Early kills from Phillip Holbrook, Isaac McKee, and Joel Depue kept the Sabercats even with Trinity as the set progressed, but Trinity ultimately came out on top in extra points, winning 26-24.

The Trolls had taken the advantage in the match but the Sabercats kept fighting. Maranatha earned the lead in the second frame but ultimately fell short to a late Trinity run that separated the two teams, as Trinity took home a 25-19 win to put the win within striking distance.

As they always do, the Sabercats put in a decent showing to the end, as Trinity took this match in three sets. It was anything but easy for the hosts, however, as the Sabercats squeezed out 22 points to give the Trolls a run for their money. Depue increased his kill count to nine and Taylor Dafoe registered a season-high 25 assists to gain the Sabercats some momentum, even in the loss.

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#6 Greenville: But even after three consecutive defeats at the national stage, the Sabercats saved their best for last. Everything came together in a team-effort 3-1 win over Greenville as MBU secured 7th place at the national stage.

Holbrook (17 kills), Depue (13 kills), and James Rossiter (11 kills) all were in career-high double digits offensively, Taylor Dafoe pitched up a career-high 46 assists and 15 digs, and the Sabercats were rolling to the win in their final match of the weekend. 

The match was a thriller, as every set yielded 20 points minimum for both teams. After dropping the opener, Maranatha went on to take three straight wins from their Illinois opponents to mark a hard-earned and positive ending to their second NCCAA National Invitational.

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MBU Starters: 3- Massey, 4- McKee, 5- Dafoe, 6- Rossiter, 8- Depue, 12-Holbrook, 13- Wagner (L), 15- Smith

STATS (two-match totals)

• Depue: 22 K, 17 D
• Holbrook: 22 K, 6 D
• Dafoe: 71 A, 21 D
• Rossiter: 15 K, 4 B
• McKee, Rory Massey: 11 K each
• Series: Maranatha trails the Trinity Christian series 0-4
• Series: Maranatha trails the Greenville series 1-3

OPPONENTS

• Trinity Christian College competes in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA)
• Greenville competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA DIII)

NEXT

The Sabercats will travel to Concordia Wisconsin next Friday-Saturday for the Concordia Wisconsin Tournament. Stay updated at mbusabercats.com/schedule.