Trojan Block Denies Knights in Dominant Defensive Showing

INDIANAPOLIS – No. 20 Taylor's net presence dominated on Saturday against RV Marian, fueling a decisive sweep behind 13 blocks and a .290 hitting percentage, the second highest for TU in CL play this season.

Freshman middle, Ruth Anderson led the charge in both areas, with her most impressive match in purple and gray. Anderson tallied a career day in both kills (11) and blocks (7), while hitting .500 in just her seventh collegiate start.

Reagan Salzbrenner also delivered at the net with a career-high seven blocks to go with five kills and no errors. Ellie Frey had a game-high 13 kills, while Lindsay Springer produced 19 assists and McKaylah Flagle dug out 15 balls to inch closer to 2,000 career digs.

The opening set was tight with Taylor holding a slight advantage before Marian (15-9, 7-8 CL) snapped off a 4-0 run to knot the set at 15 apiece.

Anderson responded with a kill to spark a 5-2 run for a 20-17 lead that quickly evaporated into a 21-21 deadlock. Anderson delivered at the end with a pair of blocks to bookend a 4-1 run to take the first set.

The Trojan block continued to deliver to begin the second as Salzbrenner got in on the act, with a trio of denials in the first six points. The Trojan attack began to heat up, fueling a 7-1 run to take a commanding 13-5 lead.

The momentum carried the entire set as TU hit an incredible .433 with 14 kills and just a single error en route to a runaway 25-13 set victory.

Marian battled in the third and held a slim lead in the early goings until the dominant display at the net for TU delivered another block for a 14-13 advantage. The lead did not last long as the Knights strung together three straight points after a timeout for a late 21-20 lead.

The Trojans answered with five of the final six points for the impressive road sweep. Marian was held to a 0.57 hitting percentage and one total block the entire match.

No. 20 Taylor (18-9, 9-6 CL) looks to continue its winning ways back inside Odle Arena on Wednesday, October 29, against Saint Francis (4-23, 0-15 CL) at 7:00 pm.