MILWAUKEE -- After five NCCAA matches in a row, the Sabercats were back at their NCAA DIII-heavy schedule, taking losses in straight sets to MSOE and Mount Mary at the MSOE Triangular Saturday.

With the losses behind them, the Sabercats look forward to defending their home floor in NCCAA Midwest Region play next Saturday, as they host Emmaus and Kuyper in the Maranatha Triangular.

OVERVIEW 

• Results:
  • Maranatha 0-3 MSOE (8-25, 10-25, 14-25)
  • Maranatha 0-3 Mount Mary (7-25, 21-25, 5-25)
• Venue: Kern Center, MSOE
• Location: Milwaukee
• Event: MSOE Triangular
• Records: MBU (0-14), MSOE (8-10), Mount Mary (3-12)

STORY 
The Raiders came out with an offensive firestorm in the opening set, posting 17 kills while keeping the Sabercats to one to take a dominant 25-8 win. The Raiders had a balanced and deep swath of hitters, who combined for 39 kills in the three-setter. 

Tessa Hinze led Maranatha with five kills against MSOE while Megan Miller led the defensive work with 13 digs.

The Blue Angels and the Sabercats did battle in the second set of the Maranatha-Mount Mary match, as just four points separated them when the second frame was done and dusted. Lilly Broere, Hinze, Andi Adams, and Ella Malmanger were all pitching in kills for the Sabercats, who threw Mount Mary off their rhythm in a second frame that was ultimately decided by effective work at the net from Rosalinda Palacios. Palacios's big kill and block in the dying points led Mount Mary to the decisive win, as she led the Blue Angels with nine kills, four aces, and three solo blocks on the day.

MBU Starters: 6- Botha, 7- Malmanger, 9- Hinze, 11- Adams, 13- Broere, 14- Anderson, 22- Miller (C) (Libero)

STATS

• Hinze: 11 K
• Miller: 28 D
• Eileen Botha: 24 A
• Last time: Maranatha lost in straight sets to MSOE last October
• Last time: Maranatha won the season series 2-1 over Mount Mary in 2023
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series against MSOE 
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series against Mount Mary 46-17

OPPONENTS

• MSOE competes in the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NCAA DIII)
• Mount Mary competes in the Coast-to-Coast Conference (NCAA DIII)

NEXT

The Sabercats will host their first matches of the 2024 season this coming Saturday, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Follow all the action at mbusabercats.com/schedule.