CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Amber Clay and Kendyl Todd were firing on all cylinders in Marian's 25-18, 25-18 victory over Munster on Wednesday night.
Clay, a 5-foot-11 junior outside, pounded out 12 kills on 18-of-21 hitting and Todd put away eight kills on 10-of-13 hitting as the Spartans improved to 7-1.
"We were fired up for tonight," Todd said. "We really pulled together and gave it our all. We wanted to walk off the court proud."
Marian walked the part against the Mustangs (8-4), who were coming off an upset victory over Northwest Crossroads Conference rival Andrean Tuesday night.
The Spartans jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first game and never let Munster get into a rhythm.
"We had a slow start and they stayed a step ahead the whole night," Munster coach Tracy Summers said. "We had a tough time making adjustments."
The Mustangs came to within two points of Marian in the first game at 18-16 but an Allyson Brooks kill off a block out of the middle, a Clay dig that went for a kill and a Todd tip that went for a kill put Munster away.
"It helps to play hard competition and it helps us for conference," Todd said.
Todd, a 5-foot-11 junior middle, made several kills off a sweet slide move that Munster couldn't defend.
"She's a worker," Marian coach Ryan Summers said. "She plays the way the game is supposed to be played. She gives 100 percent constantly and never quits."
Todd added two block kills and five aces, while Clay had 13 digs and three blocks and Nicole Manno contributed 8 digs.
"We have a lot of good defensive players who have a lot of heart and are scrappy," Ryan Summers said. "We get an extra four or five points a game because of it."
Munster, which faces Hobart today, tied the score several times in the second game but could never take a lead.
"We'll just take what we see and work for the future," said Tracy Summers, who faced Ryan for the second time in her career and the first since their December 2011 marriage.
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