Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Lauren Randall led all Marauders with 31 kills, Lauren Boldt earned two solo blocks and six block assists, and Janell Finkbeiner totaled 74 assists as U-Mary won back to back matches to close out the Eckerd College Classic.
 
The Marauders took on University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras in the first match of the day, looking to bounce back from the losses the day before.
 
The first set started off rough for U-Mary as they fell into a 17-13 deficit midway through the match. They would battle back, however, as they narrowed the margin 19-20 before six straight points from the Marauders would close out the set 25-20.  Kills from Randall, Boldt, Ashley Koppinger, and a block assist by Boldt and Paige Smith highlighted the points.
 
The Marauder would have their hands full in the second set though, as they found themselves in an early 2-9 hole against Puerto Rico.  That gap would extend to 11-20 before U-Mary would fight back to narrow the lead 19-21. It wouldn't be enough though, as the Marauders eventually fell 21-25.
 
U-Mary would demonstrate their resilience in the third set after an early 9-4 lead was extended to 14-6 at the midway point. Puerto Rico wouldn't put up much of a fight as the Marauders cruised to a 25-14 victory.
 
The final set started out the same with an early 10-5 score favoring the Marauders that would get extended to 21-15.  Puerto Rico fought back as they narrowed U-Mary's lead to 21-19 before the Marauders closed out the set, and the match 25-22
 
Boldt totaled 13 kills, 34 attacks, .265 attack percentage to go with her three block assists. Randall was incredibly active as she finished with 12 kills, 40 attacks, three aces, one solo block, and one block assist. Allison Adams rounded out the Marauder attack as she earned 10 kills, 18 attacks, .500 attack percentage, one solo block and two block assists. Finkbeiner aided the offensive effort as she earned one ace, one solo block, and one block assist to go along with her 36 assists. Alex Brown continued to showcase her defensive prowess with 17 digs and Casey Reamann highlighted the Marauder's depth as she also finished with three aces and 20 digs.

"The team finally played as a team, bettering the ball for each other and connecting in our offense," said head coach Melissa Chaplin. 'Puerto Rico was a hard fought opponent with great defense so it was nice to see the girls move the ball making a team work on D. Johnston and Reamann came in at key times being on point with their serves and Adams, Boldt and Boyd came in as seniors hitting over .400 as huge terminators for us."
 
U-Mary looked to carry the momentum from the first game into the second as they faced off against Chadron State College hoping to avenge their loss from the previous week.
 
The Marauders would open up the first set with a dominating performance as they jumped out to an 11-6 lead early.  The Eagles would fight back as they narrowed the gap to 15-13, but it would not be enough, as the Marauders would go on a 10-3 run to close out the set 25-16.
 
The Eagles would not go quietly as they put U-Mary into an early hole at 0-4 in the second set. From there, Chadron would keep the pressure up as they stayed a comfortable distance ahead of the Marauders at 21-12.  U-Mary would retaliate as they battle back to even the score at 23-23 before the Eagles would close out the set 23-25.
 
The third set started off with a bang, as there were three lead changes and five ties en route to an 11-10 Marauder advantage. From there, U-Mary would turn up the attack as they extended the margin to 15-11.  The Eagles could not keep up though, as the Marauders would close out the set 25-16.
 
The final set of the day would highlight the Marauder well-balanced look as they jumped out to an early 10-5 lead.  The rest of the set would not see much from the Eagles as U-Mary extended their lead to 14-6 before closing out the match 25-16.
 
Randall would add to her totals for the day as she finished with 19 kills, 25 attacks, two aces, one solo block, and one block assist. Boldt kept up the production as well as she earned 10 kills, 19 attacks, two solo blocks and three block assists.  Finkbeiner ended up with 38 assists and Brown led all Marauders with 17 digs.

"This was a crucial win for the ladies as they now know that they have had the talent and skills all along," said Chaplin. "That the power is with them taking control and having confidence over their game.

"Everyone today played a roll in energy and team excitement that they have what they need to succeed. I  am very proud of how they have played this weekend."
 
U-Mary will return home on Tuesday, Sept. 16, to open up the conference schedule with a match against Minot State University.
 
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