Fond du Lac, Wis. - After dropping the first set to Marian Saturday afternoon in Wisconsin, the Illinois Tech women's volleyball team rallied to win the next three sets and defeat the Sabres 3-1, and keeping their postseason hopes alive heading into their final regular season match on Tuesday.

The Scarlet Hawks improved their record in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play to 5-7, putting them in 10th place with one match remaining to secure one of the final two spots open - the seventh or eighth seed. Marian fell to 6-6 in NACC play, but are currently holding on to the 7th seed. The Scarlet Hawks would have to win their match at home against Concordia Chicago on Tuesday, and get some help from the teams playing Marian, Dominican and Wisconsin Lutheran that same evening to move into one of the final conference tournament seeds. The Hawks have won three of their last four conference matches down the stretch to give themselves a chance for postseason play.

Illinois Tech 3 - Marian 1 (19-25, 25-12, 25-22, 25-19)

• The Scarlet Hawks raced out to an 8-3 lead in the opening set, but couldn't hold it. An 11-3 answer by Marian put the Sabres up 14-11. A 5-3 run by the Hawks pulled them within one point at 16-15, but that would be as close as they would get in the set, as Marian closed out the match with a 9-4 run. Briar Moore and Karla Trautmann Mendez each had 3 kills in the set.
• Set two did not see an breakthrough until midway through the set. Tied at 9-9, the Scarlet Hawks completed an 11-1 run to move in front 20-10, en route to a 25-12 set two victory. Maria Fernanda Alcantara paced the Hawks with 4 kills in the set.
• Set three would turn out to be the most competitive of the match, with five tie scores and four lead changes. Illinois Tech found themselves trailing late, however, losing 21-17. The Scarlet Hawks would rally, using an 8-1 run to come from behind and win set three, 25-22. Victoria Aspurez led the Hawks with 2 kills in set three.
• While set three was the closest of sets, set four saw the Scarlet Hawks win wire to wire, including a 6-0 run to open the set. The Sabres would get as close as 3 points behind at 17-14, but an 8-5 response from the Hawks closed out the set 25-19, and the match 3 sets to 1. Moore added 5 kills in the final set to lead the Hawks.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Moore had another all-around game, leading the team with 10 kills while adding 5 blocks and 15 digs.
• Fernanda Alcantara added 9 kills with a .318 attack percentage.
• Trautmann Mendez had 8 kills and a .400 attack percentage to go along with 4 blocks.
• Aspurez finished with 7 kills, a .417 attack percentage along with 5 blocks.
• Kelsey Starnes had 14 digs and 22 receptions total with only one receiving error.
• Sasami Cavan led the Hawks with 20 assists while adding 8 more service aces.

Sabres Watch

• Serina Pehowski led Marian with 9 kills.
• Hailey Stich had 7 kills to go with a .278 attack rate.
• Anna Tapia led all setters with 26 assists.

Up Next
The Scarlet Hawks come back home to the Keating Center Tuesday night at 7:00 PM to host Concordia Chicago. The Hawks need to beat the Cougars and have the three teams directly in front of them: Marian, Dominican and Wisconsin Lutheran lose on Tuesday to help Illinois Tech reach the conference tournament.