(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) FAIRBORN, OHIO – Mar The Marquette University volleyball team (1-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) secured their first victory of the 2026 season over Wright State (2-1, 0-0 HORIZON) in straight sets Saturday evening at the Nutter Center.
Marquette controlled the match statistically, finishing with a .396 hitting percentage compared to Wright State’s .240 while holding advantages in kills (48-41), assists (45-37), service aces (4-1) and total blocks (7.0-4.0). The Golden Eagles were particularly efficient offensively, committing just eight attack errors on 101 swings, while also forcing 17 Wright State attacking errors.
Marquette was led offensively by Emma Parks, who tallied a career-high 13 kills on 23 attacks with just one error for a team-best .522 hitting percentage. Carson Tyler added 12 kills, nine digs, one service ace and two block assists, while Tani Juric contributed nine kills and two block assists. Keira Schmidt chipped in six kills and a team-high four block assists.
Setter Luanna Markus directed the offense with 35 assists and added four kills, along with five digs. Molly Welge recorded four kills and three block assists, while libero Emi Juric paced the back row with eight digs. Allie Beers also added three service aces.
MU recovered from an early deficit and gradually seized control behind a balanced offensive effort and strong play at the net. After the teams were tied at 7-7, the Golden Eagles used a lengthy run fueled by three straight kills from Tani Juric, a pair of kills from Carson Tyler and steady distribution from Luanna Markus. Marquette’s defense also made an impact with key blocks from Keira Schmidt, Molly Welge and Emma Parks, helping limit Wright State’s attack as the Golden Eagles closed the frame on top, 25-16.
Wright State erased an early five-point deficit and eventually pulled even at 14-14 midway through the frame. Marquette responded with a composed stretch led by Tyler, Schmidt and Welge, while Markus continued to orchestrate the offense and help the Golden Eagles regain control. Consecutive Raider attack errors also aided Marquette’s late push before Tyler delivered the set-clinching kill, allowing the Golden Eagles to take the second set, 25-21.
The third set proved to be the tightest of the match, featuring 11 ties and multiple lead changes as Wright State pushed Marquette deep into the frame. The Raiders held an 18-15 advantage late and later earned set point at 24-23, but the Golden Eagles refused to fold. Parks tied the score at 24-24 with a kill before a block from Tani Juric and Schmidt turned away a Wright State attack to give Marquette match point. Beers then sealed the comeback with a service ace, completing Marquette’s rally from a late deficit and securing a 26-24 set victory.
NOTES
- MU improved to 3-3 against the Raiders all-time
- MU grabbed their first win against WSU on the road
- Marquette secured a season-high .396 hitting percentage, hitting above .200 for the first time this season
- The Golden Eagles didn’t have a single player hit below .300 in the match, with Emma Parks leading with a .522 attack percentage
- Emma Parks secured a new career-high 13 kills, her second time going into double-figure kills in a match in her career
- Carson Tyler recorded her third-straight double-digit kill performance in a Golden Eagle uniform, recording 12 kills
- For her performance across both matches this weekend, Tyler was named to the Flyer/Raider Invitational All-Tournament Team. She totaled 27 kills, hit .306, collected four service aces, 17 digs, and just one reception error across 34 receptions.
- Allie Beers recorded a career-high three service aces, including the match clincher
- Luanna Markus matched her career-high with 35 assists
UP NEXT
Marquette heads west for a matchup with South Florida next Saturday, Sep. 5 in Stanford, Calif.
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