POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Pink filled McCann Arena on Saturday night for Marist volleyball’s annual Dig Pink game in support of breast cancer awareness. The Red Foxes gave the crowd another reason to celebrate, sweeping Niagara to earn their second consecutive victory.
The Red Foxes defeated the Purple Eagles in straight sets, 25-12, 25-33, 25-14, following Friday’s win over Canisius. The back-to-back victories moved Marist into a tie for fourth place in the Metro Conference standings with Sacred Heart as the team continues its push towards the conference tournament.
Marist’s win was a team effort, with contributions coming from across the lineup. Sophomore outside hitter Mallory Reck led the attack with 10 kills, while senior outside hitter Sara Dasic added seven. Senior middle blocker Sarah Bumstead made her presence felt at the net with eight kills and a game-high seven blocks, helping the Red Foxes finish with 14 blocks as a squad.
Senior libero Claudia Kasperski made her presence felt immediately. On the opening point, Kasperski dove into the stands in an attempt to keep the ball alive, sacrificing her body to extend the rally. Niagara ultimately took the point, but the effort set the tone for a Marist defense that continued to cover the floor throughout the evening.
Marist quickly found its footing, putting together a 5-0 run in the opening frame. Niagara challenged a point and successfully ended the run, but the Red Foxes continued to dictate the pace. Reck covered significant ground defensively, keeping rallies alive and helping Marist maintain its advantage.
After Niagara called a timeout, Marist closed with six consecutive points to end a lopsided first set, 25-12.
The Purple Eagles presented a tougher challenge in the second set. Marist opened with a 5-0 run before a service error by Kasperski gave Niagara its first point of the frame. The teams traded points as Niagara settled into the match, and the Purple Eagles briefly took their first lead.
Marist regained the advantage, but Niagara stayed close, forcing the Red Foxes to work for every point. With the set tied at 23, Marist called a timeout before returning to the court and securing the final two points for a 25-23 win.
Niagara’s blocking forced Marist to become more deliberate with its offensive choices as the match progressed.
“I think Niagara did a really good job of setting up a great block and definitely made it difficult, especially as the game went on,” said DeLoid. “So, we had to get very creative with our shots and really not just rely on power swings, had to really use the cord and, you know, figure it out that way.”
Marist carried that adaptability into the third set, although Niagara initially kept pace. A successful Marist challenge interrupted the action, and the pause quickly turned into an impromptu dance battle between the two teams. Players from both sides joined in, giving the crowd an entertaining break before the match resumed.
The teams remained even at 11 before a service error by Niagara’s senior setter Paisley Ka’ahanui handed Marist another point. The Red Foxes then found separation, building a 16-11 lead for their first comfortable lead of the set.
As Niagara struggled with its consistency, Marist capitalized on the mistakes and took control of the closing stretch. The crowd responded as the Red Foxes continued to pull away, eventually securing the 25-14 set and completing the sweep.
While the starting lineup delivered across all three sets, DeLoid emphasized that the team’s success extends beyond the players on the court.
“I think, you know, our bench is more important than our starting lineup. I say it all the time,” said DeLoid. “They’re the ones in the gym every single day, competing and challenging the ones that you get to see on the floor here. And it’s really fun to be able to reward everybody and be able to show how much, how hard everybody works on the team, and not just seven or eight people.”
Marist will look to extend its winning streak Tuesday against Siena for its final match of their five-game homestand.
Edited by August Lieberman
Graphic by Xavier Angel
Photo via Marist Athletics
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