FOND DU LAC, Wis. — The Lawrence University volleyball team opened its season in dominant fashion Tuesday, rolling to a 3-0 nonconference victory over Marian University at Sadoff Gymnasium.
Lawrence controlled the match from the opening serve and won by scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-15. The Vikings never trailed and did not allow a tie throughout the three-set victory.
Bella Van Lannen powered the Lawrence attack with a match-high 16 kills while committing only three errors on 26 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. Audrey Weier, Meg Pfannerstill and Emma Nilson added eight kills apiece.
The Vikings hit .267 as a team and saved their best performance for the final set. Lawrence put away 16 kills with only three errors in the third and hit .433.
Lawrence established control early in the opening set, jumping out to a 10-4 advantage. Marian pulled within three at 16-13, but the Vikings answered and closed the set on a 9-6 run. Nilson finished the frame with five kills, while Van Lannen and Weier combined for seven.
The Vikings again led from start to finish in the second set. Marian stayed within striking distance at 21-19 before kills from Van Lannen and Pfannerstill helped Lawrence secure four of the final six points.
Lawrence then put the match away emphatically in the third. The Vikings raced out to an 8-2 lead and later used an 8-1 run to extend the margin to 19-8. Van Lannen delivered eight kills on nine attempts during the set.
Hallie Neill directed the offense with 27 assists and added eight digs. Ally Corrente contributed 10 assists, while Aria Wessel led the back row with 11 digs. Lawrence also finished with six service aces, including two apiece from Weier and Makenna Rettler.
The victory moved Lawrence to 1-0 on the season.
