(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University volleyball team (14-7, 9-2 BIG EAST) fell to Creighton (14-9, 9-2 BIG EAST) in five sets Thursday evening at the Al McGuire Center.
Carson Tyler paced the Golden Eagles with 22 kills while adding four service aces, six blocks and eight digs. Tani Juric provided a career-high 19 kills and hit .250 while contributing two blocks, and Luanna Markus orchestrated the offense with 43 assists, 24 digs and five blocks for a strong all-around performance. Defensively, Emi Juric matched Markus for the team lead with 24 digs and added eight assists, while Molly Welge anchored the net with six blocks to go along with six kills. Julia Stanev also contributed a team-high nine blocks.
Marquette came out strong, building a 10-7 lead behind three early kills from Tani Juric and back-to-back service aces from Carson Tyler. The Golden Eagles maintained their advantage through a 14-14 tie before Creighton seized control. The Bluejays scored eight of the next nine points, turning a one-point match into a 22-15. Marquette showed late resilience, scoring four straight points to trim the deficit from 24-17 to 24-21, highlighted by a kill from Luanna Markus and an overpass tool by Julia Stanev. However, Creighton secured the set with a kill, closing out the 25-21 opening-set win.
In the second, the Golden Eagles broke a 9-9 tie by scoring seven of the next nine points, highlighted by a Carson Tyler service ace, a pair of Creighton attacking errors and a block from Tani Juric and Julia Stanev to build a 16-11 advantage. Marquette maintained control throughout the remainder of the set, getting key kills from Tyler, Juric and Caydence Doolan while limiting the Bluejays’ offense. Tyler recorded consecutive kills late in the frame to help extend the lead to 21-15, and the Golden Eagles closed the set by scoring five of the final seven points. Juric supplied three of Marquette’s last five points, including the set-clinching kill from Luanna Markus to secure the 25-19 win and level the match at one set apiece.
After the Golden Eagles built an 8-6 advantage behind blocks from Molly Welge, Carson Tyler and Julia Stanev, Creighton battled back to tie the set at 9-9. Marquette responded with a decisive 9-2 run, sparked by kills from Tani Juric, Tyler and Caydence Doolan. Juric recorded three kills during the stretch, while Tyler added a service ace and Stanev contributed a solo block as the Golden Eagles expanded their lead to 18-11. Marquette continued to apply pressure late, getting additional kills from Juric and Tyler while forcing several Creighton attacking errors. The Bluejays trimmed the deficit to 23-16, but Marquette closed the set on a Creighton attack error before Tyler delivered the set-winning kill from Emi Juric to secure the 25-17 victory.
Marquette jumped out to a 6-2 lead behind an Allie Beers service ace, a kill from Caydence Doolan and a block by Luanna Markus and Molly Welge. The Bluejays answered with a 7-0 run to take a 9-6 advantage before Marquette rallied back, using kills from Carson Tyler and Tani Juric along with a series of key blocks to regain a 13-11 lead. Neither team led by more than two points for the remainder of the set as the score was tied at 14-14, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22 and 23-23. Creighton earned the first set point at 24-23 following a Marquette attack error, but Tyler answered with a kill to extend the set. The Bluejays then converted on consecutive kills to secure the 26-24 win and send the match to a decisive fifth set.
In the fifth, the Bluejays used a 4-0 run to turn a 4-4 tie into a 8-4 advantage, aided by an ace and a pair of Marquette attacking errors. The Golden Eagles battled back, however, tying the score at 8-8 behind consecutive Creighton attack errors and taking a 10-9 lead. Neither team gained more than a one-point edge the rest of the way until Creighton moved ahead 13-11. Marquette answered with kills from Molly Welge and Emma Parks to save two match points and later drew even at 14-14 on a Carson Tyler kill. Creighton responded to earn a third match point, and the Bluejays secured the match on the following rally to take the set, 16-14.
NOTES
- MU fell to 8-34 all-time against the Bluejays
- Marquette’s seven-match win streak was snapped in the loss.
- Marquette and Creighton are now tied for the lead in the BIG EAST with a matching 9-2 record.
- MU tied their season-high of 16 blocks against CU
- Luanna Markus posted her fifth-career double-double, finishing with 43 assists and 24 digs.
- Markus’ 24 digs are also the first time over 20 digs in her career, and a new career-high.
- Markus’ 24 digs are the most by an MU setter since Isabela Haggard had 22 at DePaul on 10/29/2025.
- Tani Juric produced a new career-high 19 kills
- Julia Stanev blocked a new career-high nine Bluejay attacks
- Emi Juric had her fifth match of 20+ digs this season after finishing with 24.
- Juric has eclipsed 20 digs in back-to-back contests and four of the past six contests
- Carson Tyler eclipsed 20+ kills for the fifth time this season, and 18th time in her career after finishing with 22 against Creighton
- Both Luanna Markus and Emi Juric surpassed 20 digs in the match, the first time this has occurred since Sarah Kushner and Yadhira Anchante both did so against Purdue on Dec. 1, 2023 in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
UP NEXT
Marquette hosts DePaul this Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. CT inside the Al McGuire Center.
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