Quinnipiac took Marist to the brink today, but the Bobcats fell to the Red Foxes in five sets.

Quinnipiac started strong, scoring seven of the first 10 points in the opening set. The Bobcats kept it close all the way bringing it to 24-24 before eventually losing the next two volleys starting out down early.

After dropping the first two sets 26-24 and 25-21, Quinnipiac won the next two forcing a decisive set five. 

“I think overall we can be really proud of this game and take a lot of things away from this game,” senior Nicole Legg said. “Everything we’ve been having to go through this week, making a lot of adjustments going into that fifth set was our first five set game in the conference.”

Senior Maggie Baker and Legg led the way for the Bobcats having kills of 10 and nine, respectively.

Quinnipiac stayed right with Marist like it had all day in the fifth set until the end when Marist took over and eventually won the final set 15-10.

Sophomores Sasha Van der Merwe and Jordan Newblatt both hit double digits in kills for the Red Foxes. Marist outside hitter Gabriella Heimbauer also put up a nice stat line of nine kills.

Although Quinnipiac lost and fell to 7-8 in conference play, there are some positives to take out of this game. The team played in their first five set match of the season and battled without players like Lexi Morse and Olga Zampati in the lineup.

“Athletes that have been competing all year now have a chance to step up,” coach Kyle Robinson said. “We miss Olga and Lexi…but we still have business to do so we have to work hard to get it done.”

The Bobcats responded to Robinson’s message. The depleted lineup came in and fought, getting much needed experience heading into the MAAC playoffs.

“The fear, the nervousness in that now everything’s on the line,” said Robinson. “As much as we want to win, we’re looking at the future. Can we put these young athletes in situations where they have to learn what it’s like to compete at that moment.”

With three games left Robinson’s team currently sits at sixth in the MAAC standings. Their final three games will all be in MAAC play against Siena, Manhattan, and Iona. 

The team will look to catch Iona for the fifth seed who currently sits ahead of them with a conference record of 8-7.