WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats opened their home games with a thrilling five-set win over Mount Mary tonight, as MBU fought their own inconsistency, a bid at a comeback, and a spirited visiting team to bring a boistrous home crowd to its feet.

Mattie Bumpus, Jennifer Rueb, Ellie Sopata, and Erica Ureke were all honored after the game for Senior Night, celebrating a big first win in front of a big first home crowd. With the win, Maranatha improves to 8-10 and will host Emmaus tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. for their final home game of the season.

Home. Sweet. Home. pic.twitter.com/Jhgh5ph0bc

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) October 15, 2021

OVERVIEW

• Results: Maranatha 3-2 Mount Mary (25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 9-25, 16-14)
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 277
• Records: MBU (8-10), MMU (5-16)

STORY 

Fueled by chants of "M-B-U!" and "Let's go, Sabers!" from the energetic home crowd, the Sabercats came out swinging in the opening set. Bumpus and Caitrin Kemlo put down early kills to get the game going and Rueb put the nail in the coffin to end the first set five points ahead.

Jen ends it!! �� �� �� we take the first set 25-20 ��

Feels so good to be home �� pic.twitter.com/i6gFM7pT5V

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) October 15, 2021

Mount Mary responded well, however, coming back to win 25-23 in the second set. The Sabercats struggled with all things serve-related, coughing up nine points on either serve errors or Mount Mary aces. 

Liberty Bailey came up big in the third set to swing the momentum back in MBU's favor. The junior snuck in four late kills (five in the set) to set Maranatha up for a four-set win, and Maranatha was starting to gain control and they had the home crowd behind them. But Mount Mary swung things back around, and Maranatha started to play hesitantly in the fourth set. Things started decently for MBU but a 12-0 Mount Mary run crippled the Sabercats, muted the home fans, and evened the match. This one was going to five.

The final set started with a 5-1 lead for Mount Mary, but the Sabercats waited till the end to turn up the heat with their attack. They put down 10 kills as a team with just one attack error, squaring the pressure firmly on their shoulders, holding off the comeback, and marking a memorable end to their 2021 home opener.

Thank you, Seniors �� �� �� �� pic.twitter.com/D9nVGlrWsO

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) October 15, 2021

--

MBU Starters: 3- Johnson, 8- Bumpus, 11- Ureke (L), 13- Bates, 15- Sopata, 22- Miller, 24- Rueb

STATS 

• Bumpus: 16 K, 5 D, 6 B
• Kemlo: 10 K, 3 D
• Emily Johnson: 4 K, 36 A, 6 SA, 12 D
• Ureke: 17 D
• Last time: Marantha defeated Mount Mary 3-0 on September 25
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series 38-15

OPPONENT

• Mount Mary competes in the Coast-to-Coast Conference (NCAA DIII)
• Mount Mary did not compete in 2020

NEXT

The Sabercats stay at home to host Emmaus on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.