(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) – OMAHA, NEB – The Marquette University volleyball team (8-6, 3-1 BIG EAST) took down Creighton (8-8, 3-1 BIG EAST) in a five-set thriller Sunday afternoon at D.J. Sokol Arena.
Carson Tyler led Marquette with 21 kills and added seven service aces and 17 digs for a double-double. Caydence Doolan and Tani Juric each added 10 kills, while Molly Welge recorded eight kills without an error to hit .421 and added three blocks. Luanna Markus directed the offense with 43 assists and chipped in 13 digs, while Emi Juric tallied 12 digs and two aces. Avery Helms and Allie Beers each added 10 digs, and Julia Stanev contributed three kills on .300 hitting with three blocks.
Creighton jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind three Nora Wurtz service aces and never trailed in the opening frame. Marquette settled in after the early deficit, pulling within three at 9-6 on a Carson Tyler kill and staying within striking distance through the middle of the set. The Bluejays pulled away with a 5-0 run to take a 20-12 advantage, and the Golden Eagles could get no closer than seven the rest of the way, taking the opener 25-16.
Marquette responded in the second set, overcoming an early 7-3 deficit with a 6-1 run highlighted by back-to-back Carson Tyler service aces and consecutive blocks to take its first lead at 9-8. After Creighton moved back in front, the Golden Eagles answered again and used a 4-0 run to grab an 18-16 advantage. Tyler delivered four kills down the stretch as Marquette extended its lead to 23-20. Creighton pulled within one at 23-22, but Caydence Doolan closed the frame with consecutive kills to give Marquette a 25-22 second-set victory and even the match at one set apiece.
Creighton regained control in the third set after Marquette battled to an early 2-2 tie. The Bluejays used a 6-2 stretch to take an 8-4 advantage and gradually built their lead from there. Marquette pulled within three at 14-11 on a Carson Tyler kill, but Creighton answered with four of the next five points to push its advantage to 18-12. Tyler recorded four kills during the frame, while the Golden Eagles also received two kills apiece from Caydence Doolan and Molly Welge. Creighton closed the set with seven of the final 12 points to claim a 25-17 third-set victory and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Marquette forced a deciding fifth set with a strong response in the fourth, racing out to a 4-0 lead behind a pair of Carson Tyler service aces. Creighton erased the early deficit and went ahead 8-7, but the Golden Eagles answered and broke a 10-10 tie with a 6-0 run that included four kills from Tyler and Julia Stanev. Creighton cut the lead to 18-15 before MU responded with four straight points to regain control at 22-15. Tyler finished with five kills in the frame as Marquette held off a late Bluejay push to claim the 25-21 fourth-set victory and even the match at two sets apiece.
Marquette completed the comeback in a dramatic fifth set, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit behind three consecutive Carson Tyler service aces to take a 4-2 lead. The teams traded runs from there, with Creighton taking a 10-8 advantage before the Golden Eagles responded to move in front 11-10. Neither side led by more than one the rest of the way as Marquette fought off four match points. With the score tied at 17, Julia Stanev and Luanna Markus combined for a block to give MU match point before Tyler delivered the game-winning kill. Tyler finished with five kills and three aces in the frame as Marquette won the fifth set, 19-17, to complete the five-set victory.
NOTES
- MU improved to 8-35 all-time against Creighton.
- The Golden Eagles snapped a seven-match losing streak against Creighton and earned their first win in the series since a 3-0 victory in Milwaukee on Oct. 6, 2023.
- The victory was Marquette’s first at Creighton since Nov. 19, 2022, when MU earned a 3-0 victory in Omaha.
- The Golden Eagles won after trailing 1-0 and 2-1, taking the second and fourth sets before claiming the fifth, 19-17.
- Marquette fought off four Creighton match points in the fifth set before scoring the final three points from a 17-16 deficit.
- Marquette recorded a season-high 11 service aces, surpassing its previous high of nine at Dayton on Aug. 28.
- The Golden Eagles’ 11 aces were their most in a match since recording 11 against Georgetown on Oct. 24, 2025.
- Marquette’s defense produced 70 digs, its second 70-dig match of the season after recording 81 against St. Thomas on Sept. 19.
- MU won despite Creighton holding advantages in kills (69-56), hitting percentage (.286-.160), digs (83-70) and blocks (10-6). The Golden Eagles held an 11-5 advantage in service aces.
- Carson Tyler finished with 21 kills, 17 digs and seven service aces, recording her sixth double-double of the season. She entered the match with five double doubles in 2026.
- Tyler has recorded double-digit kills in all 14 matches this season. She entered Sunday having done so in each of Marquette’s first 13 contests.
- Tyler’s seven service aces were a Marquette career high, surpassing her previous MU high of three. Her overall collegiate career high is also seven, set at Ball State against Toledo on Nov. 22, 2025.
- Tyler’s seven aces are tied for second most in a match in Marquette program history, one shy of the program record of eight.
- Tyler’s 17 digs were a Marquette career high, surpassing her previous MU best of 14 against St. Thomas on Sept. 19. Her collegiate career high is 19.
- Tyler recorded her third 20-kill match of the season, joining her 28-kill performance against St. Thomas and 30-kill effort at DePaul.
- Tyler has posted 20-plus kills in three of Marquette’s last six matches.
- Luanna Markus recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 43 assists and 13 digs.
- Molly Welge finished with eight kills on 19 swings without an attack error, good for a .421 hitting percentage.
- Welge’s .421 hitting percentage was her second-best mark of the season in a match with at least 10 attempts, behind her .583 performance against Milwaukee.
- Caydence Doolan recorded 10 kills, giving her her third double-digit kill performance of the season.
- Tani Juric also finished with 10 kills, her third double-digit kill outing of the season.
- Luanna Markus recorded 43 assists and 13 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
- Markus’ 13 digs established a career high, surpassing her previous best of 11 against Texas on Aug. 24.
- Markus has now recorded 30-plus assists in 12 of Marquette’s 14 matches this season.
- Emi Juric finished with 12 digs, her 11th double-digit dig performance of the season.
- Avery Helms recorded 10 digs, her fourth double-digit dig performance of the season.
- Allie Beers also totaled 10 digs, giving her her third double-digit dig performance of the season.
UP NEXT
Marquette heads back home for the weekend this Friday, Oct. 9, hosting Georgetown at 7 p.m. CT inside the Al McGuire Center.
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