February 3, 2023 | by Taylor Pill

LEAD

ELGIN, Ill. -- The Sabercats are off to a rough start at the Judson Invitational, falling to Olivet and Cornerstone in straight sets at the Lindner Center today.

Despite the losses, Maranatha compiled 25 points in a set for the first time this season, posting a 25-27 loss in a thrilling third set against the Olivet Comets. The Sabercats stay in Elgin, Illinois to conclude the tournament with two matches tomorrow.

OVERVIEW

• Final:
  • Maranatha 0-3 Olivet (10-25, 7-25, 25-27)
  • Maranatha 0-3 Cornerstone (13-25, 12-25, 4-25)
• Venue: Lindner Fitness Center - Judson University
• Location: Elgin, Ill.
• Event: Judson Invitational 
• Records: MBU (0-8), OC (3-3), CU (4-1)

STORY  

The Sabercats put up their first 25-point set of the season against Olivet in the opening match, but it was only after the set went into a tie - Olivet eventually won 27-25. The Sabercats threw the Comets off of their rhythm, relying heavily on Olivet mis-hits (10 total) to keep pace with their Michigan opponents. 

That 25-point showing came only after the Sabercats were kept on their back foot, compiling just 17 points through the first two sets combined. Daniel Says led Maranatha with five kills.

The Sabercats faced a precise-hitting Cornerstone squad in their second match of the day, falling in the first set to an 11-kill, .400-percent hitting performance from the Golden Eagles. The match became progressively harder for Maranatha, who put down a dozen points in the second before being limited to just four points in the final set by the scrappy Golden Eagle defense.

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Maranatha Starters: 1- Smith, 2- Mueller, 4-Harris, 6- Goetz, 7- Lacock, 12- Says, 13- Huston

STATS 

• Box Score (Olivet)
• Box Score (Cornerstone)
• Last time: The Sabercats beat Olivet 3-0 at the Concordia Wisconsin Tournament on January 31, 2020
• Series: The Sabercats now trail the series with Olivet 1-2
• Last time: The Sabercats won 3-1 and lost 3-1 against Cornerstone in a doubleheader on March 13, 2021
• Series: The Sabercats now trail the series with Cornerstone 1-2

OPPONENTS

• Olivet finished the 2022 season with a 5-14 record
• Olivet competes in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (NCAA-Dlll)
• Cornerstone competes in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
• Cornerstone finished the 2022 season with an 11-21 record
• This is Cornerstone's third season as a program

NEXT

The Sabercats stay in Elgin, Illinois tonight for day two of the Judson Invitational tomorrow. They will face Judson at 10 a.m. and Roosevelt at 12:30 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.