LINCOLN, Ill. – IU South Bend set a new program record with their ninth straight victory on Saturday afternoon, but the streak would end just hours later, as the Titans knocked off hosts Lincoln in a tri-match 3-1 before falling to No. 3 Missouri Baptist 3-1.
The Titans (16-4, 12-0 CCAC) kept their perfect conference record intact with their win over the Lynx (3-13, 2-9 CCAC), and formally clinched their spot in the CCAC Tournament in three weeks. Hannah Marchand led the attack, scoring 18 kills with a .395 attack percentage in the win. Julie Brown collected 12 kills and finished one short of the team’s solo block record, with four. McKenzie Powell picked up 41 assists and 14 digs for her 12th double-double of the season.
After winning the first two sets by margins of 25-23 and 25-21, IU South Bend was tripped up in game three. Trailing 22-17, the Titans score five straight to even the score, but Lincoln came back with three in a row to take the set, 25-22. The Titans wasted no time in game four, jumping out to an 11-3 lead and scoring six of the final eight points of the match to win, 25-16.
Following a slow start that led to a 25-17 loss to the third-ranked Spartans (17-2) in the first set, the Titans would hold a small lead throughout most of game two. Leading 22-19, IU South Bend would surrender the next five of the next six points to give Missouri Baptist a one-point advantage and set point, 24-23. Kills from Abby Seeger and Amber Jacobs put IUSB on top 25-24, and after both sides traded serving errors, an MBU attacking error would give the Titans the win, 27-25.
Games three and four were both close, but the Spartans would close out each. Tied 20-20 in game three, MBU went on a 5-1 run for the win. In game four, the Titans trailed 21-17 but would score four straight, highlighted by a pair of kills from Felisha Campanello, to even the set. The Spartans would go on to score three kills in a row to close out the match.
Marchand was again the top scorer in the second match of the day, with another 18 kills against Missouri Baptist. Powell registered 43 assists over four sets of work, and Suriya Van der Oord led the back line with 10 digs and a pair of aces.
The Titans return to the court on Tuesday night, when they travel to Whiting, Ind. to take on Calumet. First serve with the Crimson Wave is set for 8:00 p.m. ET.