CHICAGO -- The Sabercats competed well with two NACC teams today, but MBU was swept twice despite playing each of their final sets to a tie.

After a marathon 33-31 win in the final set, the IIT Scarlet Hawks ended the Sabercats' day on a low note in the second match of the day.

• Results: 
  • Maranatha 0-3 Lakeland (11-25, 21-25, 23-25)
  • Maranatha 0-3 IIT (13-25, 16-26, 31-33)
• Venue: Keating Center, Illinois Institute of Technology
• Location: Chicago
• Attendance: 50, 150
• Records: Maranatha (0-19), Lakeland (6-8) IIT (2-10)

Lakeland started the day off just like they wanted, as they put up a 25-11 win in the opening set. The Muskies - who averaged 15 kills per set - attacked early and often, as they never looked back from a 10-3 lead.

It took Maranatha two sets to get a rhythm going, as they finally got some momentum in the third frame. A well-balanced MBU attack ground out a 20-15 lead, but the Muskies wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Just like they started the match, LU rallied with a 10-3 run to secure the straight-set sweep.

Maranatha registered 12 kills in the final set, and Derek Wallis set the pace for MBU with 10 kills while Joel Smith pitched in six.

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In the second match of the day, the Sabercats gave the Scarlet Hawks a scare, but again, it came after the hosts put away the first two sets. In those opening two frames, the Scarlet Hawks amassed 33 kills in the opening two frames while limiting Maranatha to 12 kills total.

The third set turned into an ultra-marathon, as the teams extended the extra points to a final score of 33-31 in favor of IIT. Maranatha had four chances to win the set while IIT had six, but the hosts finally issued the killer blow at the sixth time of asking.

Wallis once again led the MBU offense with nine kills in the second match of the day. Smith once again added six while James Rossiter contributed five.

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(Two-match totals) 

• Wallis: 19 kills, 13 digs
• Taylor Dafoe: 39 assists, 16 digs, 2 aces, 2 blocks
• Smith: 12 kills, 12 digs, 3 blocks
• Lakeland: 45 kills
• IIT: 56 kills
• MBU: 50 kills

The Sabercats will return home to take on North Park next Friday at 5:00 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/composite.