INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University women's volleyball team took on the defending USCAA national champion Spalding University on Friday night at the Physical Education Center. The Knights earned a 25-15, 25-17, 16-25, 25-16 victory over the Golden Eagles.

The two teams traded blows in the first set as they played to 10-10. However, the Knights went on a 9-1 run to take a 19-11 lead and never looked back as they outscored Spalding 6-4 the rest of the way to earn the 25-15 first set win.

The second set played out nearly the same way as the teams were knotted at five before the Knights went on a 13-4 run to open an 18-9 lead. The Golden Eagles tried to fight back as they outscored the Knights 8-7 over the final 15 points, but it was enough for the Knights to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win.

The third set belonged to Spalding throughout as the Golden Eagles jumped in front 18-7 and never let the Knights back in the set as they cruised to a 25-16 win.

The fourth set was owned by the Knights as they opened up a 10-3 lead and eventually went up 17-9 before closing the set and match with a 25-16 win.

Freshman Ashley Francis (Avon, Ind./Avon) led the way on offense as she tallied 13 kills and an attack percentage of .571. Senior Ashley Hanslits (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) and junior Sadie Dizney (Speedway, Ind./Speedway), the reigning MCC Hitter of the Week, each notched nine kills for the Knights.

Freshman Holly Wasmund (Avon, Ind./Avon) notched 21 assists, while sophomore Mollie Heidenreich (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) added 16 assists on the evening.

Dizney notched 13 digs in defense, while sophomore Brittany Miller (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) added 10 digs. Francis added four blocks (three solo, one assist) on the evening.

The Knights improved to 11-4 with the win and sent Spalding to 10-3 on the season.

The Knights head to Richmond, Ind., on Monday to battle Indiana University-East at 7 p.m.