WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats showed their characteristic grit tonight, but they couldn't do more than take one set off Marian.

Derek Wallis slammed down a season-high 16 kills on the night as MBU battled all the way to the end of the four-set excursion.

• Results: Maranatha 1-3 Marian (22-25, 18-25, 25-21, 16-25)
• Venue: MBU Gymnasium
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 121
• Records: Maranatha (0-15), Marian (5-8)

Things were evenly matched in the opening set. Just as neither team dominated, neither team had a defining characteristic or primary skillset. The Sabercats threatened at the end of the set, but Marian came away with a three-point win and the advantage in the match. 

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Marian was calling the shots early in the second set, but Maranatha went on a run to come within two points in the middle stages. Although Maranatha never led, they kept Marian honest for the remainder of the set, but eventually, Marian wore the Sabercats down and took home an 18-25 win. By the end of the second, Wallis was leading MBU with six kills while Joel Smith (five) and Rory Massey (three) were putting down kills as well.

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It seemed to be all going Marian's way in the third set, but just when the visitors seemed to be packing their bags (up 19-13), the Sabercats were rewarded for showing their unique selling point of grit. Not giving up on the set, MBU went on an unstoppable 12-2 run to throw Marian for a loop and extend the match. Wallis led the charge, as he upped his kill count to 12 by the end of the third frame.

But the Sabercats' momentum would be short-lived, as Marian took care of the fourth set to take the match 3-1. Marian had little trouble offensively, as they slammed down a match-high 19 kills in the final frame.

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MBU Starters: 3-Massey, 4-McKee, 5-Dafoe, 6-Rossiter, 12-Wallis, 13-Wagner (L), 15-Smith // MU Starters: 2-Liberski (L), 3-Dittman, 4-Barnett, 6-Mena, 8-DeGroot, 12-Jurney, 22-Skinner

• Wallis: 16 kills is a season-high
• Smith: 8 kills and a career-high 14 digs
• Taylor Dafoe: 32 assists - a career-second-best 
• James Rossiter: 5 blocks
• MBU: 38 kills - second-best mark this season

• Marian competes in the NACC, holding a 3-2 conference record
• The Sabres have played five NCAA DIII-ranked opponents this season
• Coming into tonight, the Sabres were on a two-match winning streak

The Sabercats will stay home to take on Robert Morris University on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/composite.