MARION, Ind. – Wild fourth and fifth sets went the Wildcats’ way on Friday as Indiana Wesleyan University volleyball stunned visiting No. 24 Marian (Ind.) 3-2 in Luckey Arena. Kendyll Gebert finished the match with an ace to end the two plus hour match and send the Wildcats and Luckey Arena into a mass celebration.

HANGING ON

Indiana Wesleyan trailed the match 2-1 but built what seemed to be an insurmountable 19-12 advantage in the fourth set. Marian tallied 10 of the next 12 points to grab a 22-21 lead. IWU answered to earn the first set point of the match at 24-23 and it turned out to be the first of eight for the Wildcats in the set. IWU won 35-33 in a set that featured 11 combined set points.

STILL A CHANCE

A Marian win would have clinched a share of the Crossroads League regular season championship for the Knights and would have ended any possibility for the Wildcats to earn a share. MU is now 14-3 in league play and tied atop the standings with Saint Francis with one match to play. Indiana Wesleyan sits just one game back at 13-4.

MOATS QUOTES

“I am so proud of the girls resiliency tonight! They stuck together against a very good Marian team. Huge win for this young team.”

NEXT FOR THE WILDCATS

Indiana Wesleyan closes out the regular season on Saturday at home vs. Grace (Ind.). The Senior Day match begins at 3 p.m. in Luckey Arena. Indiana Wesleyan is currently in third place in the Crossroads League at 13-4 and trails Marian and Saint Francis at 14-3. Grace is fourth with an 11-5 mark.