LEAD

ELGIN, Ill. -- The winter storm outside wasn't the only storm that the Sabercats faced tonight, as they lost at Judson 3-0 inside the Lindner Fitness Center.

The loss was the first "regular-season" game for Maranatha, who look forward to their first home game of the season on Monday night.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 0-3 Judson (14-25, 12-25, 22-25)
• Venue: Lindner Fitness Center, Judson University
• Location: Elgin, Ill.
• Attendance: --
• Records: Maranatha (1-3), Judson (2-5)

STORY

The Eagles flexed their muscles in the opening two sets, limiting the Sabercats to just 26 points in the two frames combined. Judson's serve proved to be difficult to deal with, as they dropped 12 aces in on the Sabercats on the night.

James Rossiter, Phillip Holbrook, and Isaac McKee tried to keep the Sabercats' attack going with six kills apiece, and Taylor Dafoe kept things moving with 24 assists. But the Eagles held the Sabercats off, showcasing a deep bench en route to a 25-22 win in the third set to seal off the match. Maranatha had some miscues on the night offensively: 17 attack errors matched by only three Judson blocks.

All in all, the Eagles made the most of their break from CCAC play to post their second win of the season, the second win in the series, and their first home win of 2021.

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Maranatha Starters: 4- McKee, 5- Dafoe, 6- Rossiter, 11- Fopma, 12- Holbrook, 13- Wagner (L), 17- Valeria

STATS 

• Rossiter, Holbrook, McKee: 6 K each
• Dafoe: 1 K, 24 A, 3 D
• Joel Smith: 6 D (team high)
• Jared Fopma: notched his first start of the season
• Greg Geake: 9 K for Judson (team high)
• Series: Judson now leads the series 2-0

OPPONENTS

• Judson competes in the NCCAA and the NAIA's Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
• Judson finished last year with a 7-19 record
• Judson faced NAIA No. 10 St. Xavier and RV Cardinal Stritch earlier this season
• Judson's first year as a program was 2017-18

NEXT

The Sabercats' next match is scheduled for Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at home to Marian University (Wisconsin). Find details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.