BELOIT, Wis. -- A dominant comeback was in the works for the Sabercats as they came back from down 2-1 and hammered Beloit in the final sets to win the match tonight.

Erica Ureke reached her milestone 500th career dig, while four other Sabercats set career-highs in different stat categories.

OVERVIEW

• Results: Maranatha 3-2 Beloit (25-13, 18-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-8)
• Venue: Flood Arena, Beloit College 
• Location: Beloit, Wis.
• Attendance: 54
• Records: MBU (4-10), BC (4-7)

STORY

Coming off a loss in their final game of the weekend tournament, the Sabercats got back on the right foot by taking a thriller against Beloit on Tuesday evening. They started on the right foot by jumping out to an 8-1 lead in the first set and didn't look back, taking that first set 25-13. Caitrin Kemlo and Eryn Bates powered the offense with multiple kills each.

Set two started well, as the Sabercats led 17-13 at one point. But Beloit rallied to take the set 25-18 despite multiple kills from Melanie Woller and Mattie Bumpus. Set three was much more back-and-forth as neither team could build their lead. Beloit was able to gain the advantage late, however, and took the set 25-21. Bumpus, Woller, and Kemlo continued to hammer kills onto the opponent's floor, which helped keep Maranatha in the game.

Then came the fourth set. And the Sabercats had had enough. Quickly, they claimed a 14-3 advantage and never looked back, as Liberty Bailey, Bates, and Bumpus pummeled Beloit. The Buccaneers were able to rally a bit, but they couldn't stop the firestorm from the Sabercat offense as Woller and Kemlo joined the fun and kept their team ahead to claim a 25-21 win, sending the match to the fifth and final set.

It was in this final set that Maranatha, led by three more kills from Bumpus, quenched the Buccaneers and took the match in a 15-8 win, completing the comeback and securing a memorable night for several players.

Foremost among the memorable nights was Erica Ureke with 22 digs. Among the 22 digs was her milestone 500th career dig - she needed just three digs to eclipse the milestone in the match. Other milestones were career-highs for multiple players. Bumpus set a career-high 10 blocks, as did Kemlo with 7 blocks. Bailey tallied a career-high 14 digs along with a season-high 4 kills. Megan Miller marked a career-high 17 digs to bolster the defense alongside Ureke and Bailey. Emily Johnson posted 44 assists, one assist shy of her career-high.

���� Erica Ureke reached 500 career digs tonight! 519 and counting — congrats, Erica! pic.twitter.com/Ms0eppLb6K

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) September 29, 2021

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MBU Starters: 3- Johnson, 4- Reid, 8- Bumpus, 9- Woller, 11- Ureke (L), 13- Bates, 22- Miller

STATS 

• Bumpus: 17 kills, career-high 10 blocks
• Kemlo: 15 kills, career-high 7 blocks
• Woller: 11 kills
• Johnson: 44 assists
• Bailey: Career-high 14 digs
• Ureke: 22 digs, reaches 500 career digs
• Miller: Career-high 17 digs
• Bates: 7 kills, 12 digs
• MBU: 83 kills, 81 assists, 120 digs
• Last time: Maranatha defeated Beloit 3-0 in 2019
• Series: Maranatha now leads the all-time series against Beloit 9-8

OPPONENT

• Beloit competes in the Midwest Conference (NCAA DIII)
• Beloit was unable to compete in 2020 due to COVID

NEXT

The Sabercats head to Dubuque, Iowa on Saturday to face Emmaus at 4:00 p.m. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.