WEEKEND WRAPUP: Saturday, September 12, 2026

Women's Volleyball

SUMMARY
MINNEAPOLIS -- After taking a set off of sixth-ranked Spurgeon in the first match of their 2026 season, the Sabercats couldn't get past the hosts at the Minneapolis Invite, falling 3-0 to North Central to go 0-2 on Friday. But Maranatha turned things around on Saturday, sweeping Kuyper and Great Lakes in straight sets to go 2-0 on the day and 2-0 in NCCAA Midwest Region play.

Layla Damotte (Pekin, Ill./Faith Baptist Christian) led the attack with 28 kills on the weekend while freshmen McKenzie Johnson (Twin Falls, Idaho/Twin Falls Christian) logged 18 kills and Ellie Jentoft (Brimley, Mich./Maplewood Baptist) registered 13 to keep things going. Damotte spearheaded the defense as well with a team-high 52 digs (4.15 digs/set) alongisde Jentoft (44 digs - 3.38 digs/set). 

QUICK FACTS

• Results:
  • Maranatha 1-3 No. 6 Spurgeon (16-25, 25-20, 21-25, 16-25)
  • Maranatha 0-3 North Central (19-25, 18-25, 22-25)
  • Maranatha 3-0 Kuyper (28-26, 25-17, 25-20)
  • Maranatha 3-0 Great Lakes (25-18, 25-18, 25-15)
• Venue: Clark-Danielson Gymnasium, North Central University
• Location: Minneapolis, Minn.

Men's and Women's Cross Country

SUMMARY
MEQUON, Wis. -- In their first meet of the season, the Sabercats Men's Cross Country Team stole the headlines at the Ken Weidt Classic, as they qualified for NCCAA Nationals at the first possible opportunity with a team time of 2:43:13 in the 8K at Concordia-Wisconsin. 

Andrew Dorothy (Janesville, Wis./Homeschool - 30:41), Douglas Smith (Bayonne, N.J./Homeschool - 31:24), and Noah Schultz (Marshfield, Wis./Homeschool - 31:46) all met the individual qualifying standard for NCCAA Nationals for good measure. 

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The Sabercats Women's Cross Country team ran an incomplete squad of three runners and did not qualify for a team score.

QUICK FACTS

• Event: Ken Weidt Classic
• Team Finish: 6th/7 // 171 pts
• Venue: Concordia-Wisconsin
• Location: Mequon, Wis.

Women's Soccer

SUMMARY
WATERTOWN, Wis. -- A late barrage for Women's Soccer helped them roll Rockford for their second straight win, following up their 3-1 win over Eureka earlier in the week. Julia Kennedy (Whiteland, Ind./Homeschool) started the scoring with a penalty kick in the 71st minute, then after Samantha Sipla (Nekoosa, Wis./Academy of Excellence) and Amelia Schroeder (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep) cushioned the lead in the following minutes, Caitlin Lundy (Barstow, Calif./Ironwood Christian) broke through and notched her first collegiate goal to seal a convincing 4-0 win.

Schroeder continues to climb in the record books, as she is now tied for 9th in program history with 27 career goals. For Sabercats Women's Soccer, it was their largest margin of victory over Rockford in over 10 years.

QUICK FACTS

• Result: Maranatha 4-0 Rockford
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.

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Maranatha Starters: 0- Dodd, 2- Sipla, 3- Morse, 5- Pileggi, 6- Strauch, 7- Kennedy (C), 8- Lundy, 10- Cook, 11- Schroeder, 15- Sainsbury, 18- Stertz

Men's Soccer

SUMMARY
WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats are still in search for their first win of the season, falling 0-2 to Rockford University (NACC/NCAA DIII) after taking a 2-4 loss to Andrews University earlier in the week. Will Alsup (Watertown, Wis./Maranatha Baptist) scored both goals for MBU against Andrews earlier in the week, one from open play and one from a direct free kick.

QUICK FACTS

• Result: Maranatha 0-2 Rockford
• Result: Maranatha 2-4 Andrews
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.

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Maranatha Starters (Andrews): 1- McPhillips, 2- Alsup, 3- Hudson, 6- Johnson, 7- Dodd, 10- Chesley, 11- Beachell (C), 12- Bellrichard, 19- Miller (C), 21- Brock (C), 22- Broere (C)
Maranatha Starters (Rockford): 1- McPhillips, 2- Alsup, 3- Hudson, 6- Johnson, 7- Dodd, 10- Chesley, 11- Beachell (C), 15- Faithfull, 19- Miller (C), 21- Brock (C), 22- Broere (C)

NEXT

Maranatha Women's Volleyball travels to Alverno on Tuesday, September 15 for a 7:00 PM start.
Maranatha Women's Soccer travels to Alverno as well on Tuesday, September 15 for a 4:00 PM start.
Maranatha Men's Soccer will host Emmaus University in NCCAA Midwest Region play for a 4:00 PM kickoff on Thursday, September 17.
Maranatha Men's and Women's Cross Country travels to Wisconsin-Whitewater's Tom Hoffman Invite on Saturday, September 19.
Stay connected and informed at mbusabercats.com/schedule.