APPLETON, Wis. -- The Sabercats had their persistence rewarded today, sweeping Mount Mary at the Lawrence Invitational for their first win of the season.

Maranatha, who went 1-1 on the day, welcomed key contributors Mattie Bumpus and Jennifer Rueb back into the lineup, while freshman Sarah Wright filled the Libero role, picking up 18 digs in the Mount Mary win.

OVERVIEW

• Results:
  • Maranatha 3-0 Mount Mary (22-25, 20-25, 27-29)
  • Maranatha 0-3 MSOE (21-25, 7-25, 12-25)
• Venue: Alexander Gymnasium, Lawrence University
• Location: Appleton, Wis.
• Event: Lawrence Invitational
• Attendance: -
• Records: MBU (1-9), MMU (3-8), MSOE (5-5)

STORY

Mount Mary: The Sabercats may have swept the match, but the Blue Angels proved to be formidable, averaging over 23 points per set in the loss. Brianna Ecker tried to keep Mount Mary on level terms with a match-high 15 kills, but the Sabercats answered with their own firepower, as Bumpus (10 kills), Melanie Woller (9 kills), and Caitrin Kemlo (8 kills) all shared the attacking load.

Wright kept the floor clean defensively, allowing Emily Johnson to set the attack percentage at above 30 percent as the Sabercats picked up a well-balanced and overdue first win of the season. 

Johnson dished out 24 assists and Kemlo logged an attack percentage of 57.1, going error-free in the opening match of the tournament.

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MSOE: Maranatha started the MSOE match with purpose, but it took just 2 sets for their resolve to be negated. After a 21-point effort in the opening set, the Sabercats were held to a season-low 7 points in the second before compiling just a dozen in the final set against the NACC giants.

All in all, the first win of the season was a shot in the arm for the team, who will look to tomorrow's matches with renewed momentum.

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MBU Starters: 3- Johnson, 7- Wright (L), 8- Bumpus, 9- Woller, 13- Bates, 14- Kemlo, 22- Miller, 24- Rueb

STATS 

• Box Score Game 1
• Box Score Game 2
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series against Mount Mary 16-0
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series against MSOE 27-6

OPPONENT

• Mount Mary University competes in the Coast-to-Coast Conference (NCAA DIII)
• MSOE competes in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA DIII)
• MSOE was able to compete in March, going 4-8 in a shortened spring season.

NEXT

The Sabercats continue in Appleton tomorrow at the Lawrence Invitational. Follow along at mbusabercats.com/schedule.