LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The Sabercats had their hands full against two powerful NAIA schools today, taking two straight-set losses at the Viterbo Triangular.

Derek Wallis led Maranatha in the first match with eight kills, and Isaac McKee registered a career-best nine kills in the second match of the day.

• Results: 
  • Maranatha 0-3 Viterbo (14-25, 15-25, 15-25) 
  • Maranatha 0-3 Dordt (15-25, 20-25, 14-25)
• Venue: R.W. Beggs, Sr. Gym
• Location: La Crosse, Wis.
• Attendance: 69, 24
• Records: Maranatha (0-9), Viterbo (1-3), Dordt (3-5)

The V-Hawks (NAIA) were as precise as they were powerful in the first match of the day. The hosts swung themselves out to a 25-14 win in the first set with an errorless 15 kills off just 23 attempts. So right from the start, the Sabercats knew they were in for a challenge.

Derek Wallis compiled eight kills in the match and Taylor Dafoe set his teammates up with 15 assists, but Viterbo nixed any chance of an MBU comeback. The hosts averaged over 12 kills per set and limited the Sabercats to just 18 kills and a .067 attack percentage for the match.

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Dordt, another NAIA establishment, was even sharper than Viterbo. The Defenders made the Sabercats take the brunt of the defensive load, as DC slammed down 34 kills through the first two sets combined. The Defenders had just six attack errors in the match, and their precision lifted them to the straight-set win.

Isaac McKee put up a career-high nine kills in the match and James Rossiter added six, but the Sabercats' efforts were not enough against the hard-hitting Defenders.

• MBU: 28 kills in the Dordt match
• Dafoe: 33 assists and 18 digs on the day
• Dordt: 46 kills and 6 errors

The Sabercats will travel to Adrian, Michigan to take on Adrian College on Friday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Follow at mbusabercats.com/composite.