The Aurora University women's volleyball team defeated Marian University 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-7) in the 2023 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener at home.


MATCH ONE Aurora University 3, Marian University 1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-7)
LOCATION: Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORD: Aurora University 4-4 overall and 1-0 in the NACC


- The opening set was tightly played from the opening point with the teams trading leads all the way until the final points.
- After an AU timeout and trailing 21-19, the Spartans five kills and a Marian attack error led to a 25-23 AU win.
- Lulu Torres led AU with five opening set kills.
- The second set was a mirror image of the opening set but Marian winning 25-23 to tie the match 1-1.
- The set loss appeared to wake up the Spartans as they ran off to a 10-4 lead and forcing a Marian timeout.
- The score would never be in doubt as the Spartans won 25-14 with a Kate Poellmann kill ending the set win.
- Poellmann finished with five kills in the frame while Hannah Joseph had three and eight assists.
- The fourth set was an absolute dominating one for the Spartans. 
- AU won 25-7 in the fourth to secure the 3-1 victory.
- Seven different Spartans knocked down kills in the fourth set win.


KILLS:  Lulu Torres (12) and Kate Poellmann (10)
ASSISTS: Hannah Joseph (33)
DIGS: Kristen Erickson (17), Lulu Torres (16) and Hannah Evenson (15)
ACES: Celeste Cozzoni (5)
BLOCKS: Celeste Cozzoni and Izzie Jackson (4)


Next action for the Spartan women's volleyball team comes on Friday, September 15 when they travel to Wheaton College for a tournament. AU takes on Wheaton College at 5:00 p.m. and Maryville College at 7:00 p.m. in Wheaton, Illinois.