What you get when you mix five people with at least seven kills -- which equated to an efficient .342 hitting percentage -- with 10 blocks is what Marquette volleyball (positive) and Butler (negative) experienced on an early October afternoon Sunday inside the Al McGuire Center.
For the Golden Eagles (7-6, 3-1 Big East), it was a bounce-back sweep (25-18, 25-11, 25-20), a third Big East home win and even more evidence of how they can punish the unlucky conference foes that meander through the front doors on 12th street.
For the Bulldogs (2-14, 0-4), it was a 10th-straight loss, and a guarantee they'll stay winless in conference play for at least another five days.
Marquette was led by Natalie Ring who racked a career-high 13 kills, and Aubrey Hamilton, who put up nine. Hattie Bray, Ella Foti and Carsen Murray also all put up seven, and Yadhira Anchante finished with her prescribed double-double (28 assists, 11 digs) as well.
It didn't take long for it to go from good to better to best for the Golden Eagles.
In the first set, it was three-straight points off the bat, followed by another 3-0 run to put Marquette ahead 11-6 and forced a timeout from Butler, capped off by four points in a row to close it out, 25-18.
In the second, it was a 14-point lead for Marquette courtesy a 6-0 run to end it (25-11), which followed a 4-1 run (16-7) which followed a 6-1 run (10-3).
In the third, it was much closer but five-straight points to make it 22-16 secured the Golden Eagles the frame, 25-20, and the sweep.
Up next for Marquette is a match at St. John's Friday at 6 p.m. CST. The Red Storm had the Golden Eagles' number last season, 2-1, with five-set wins over MU coming in the regular season in Queens and the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament at the Al McGuire Center.
This article was written by Jack Albright. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter/X @JackAlbrightMU.