DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Even though their play wasn't as sharp as they'd hoped, the Sabercats still rolled away from Iowa with a straight-set North Region win over Emmaus Saturday night.

Mattie Bumpus and Caitrin Kemlo posted 11 kills apiece while Emily Johnson recorded 23 assists. The win came from the Sabercats' first North Region match of the season, and they now have almost two weeks off before their next match.

OVERVIEW

• Results: Maranatha 3-0 Emmaus (25-22, 25-23, 25-14)
• Venue: Pollard Fieldhouse, Emmaus Bible College
• Location: Dubuque, Iowa
• Attendance: -
• Records: MBU (7-10), EBC (1-11)

STORY 

Rather than forcing the issue with their own play, the Sabercats had to rely on frequent Emmaus miscues in the match. Emmaus challenged Maranatha in the opening two sets before the Sabercats broke out in the third set to win 25-14. 

Still, the Sabercats earned the result when they attacked at a rate of 31 percent and registered an average of 10 kills/set as a team. Bumpus and Woller set the tone at the net while Claire Greene and Erica Ureke led the defense with just five digs each.

All in all, it was a straight-forward North Region win, as the Sabercats got their first taste of NCCAA North Region play in the 2021 season.

In terms of career records, Bumpus passed the 300-kills mark in the win.

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MBU Starters: 3- Johnson, 6- Bailey, 8- Bumpus, 9- Woller, 11- Ureke (L), 14- Kemlo, 22- Miller

STATS 

• Bumpus: 11 K, 3 D, 4 B
• Bumpus: reached 300 career kills
• Kemlo: 11 K, 2 D
• Johnson: 2 K, 23 A, 2 D
• MBU: 31.3 attack percentage
• Last time: Marantha defeated Emmaus 3-0 in their last match in 2019
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series 9-1

OPPONENT

• Emmaus competes with the Sabercats in the NCCAA DII North Region
• Emmaus did not compete in 2020

NEXT

The Sabercats take on Mount Mary in their home opener on Thursday, October 14, at 7:00 p.m. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.