ROCKFORD, Ill. - Less than 24 hours after its historic win over St. Norbert, Rockford (1-13) returned to the court on Saturday afternoon to face Maranatha Baptist University (8-14). The Regents fought hard and played well, but ultimately came up short, falling in straight sets to the Sabercats. Despite the loss, Rockford played perhaps its best defensive match thus far this season. The Regents tallied season-highs in digs (40), total blocks (7) and block assists (12) and surrendered just three service aces.

• The Regents and Sabercats battled back-and-forth for much of the opening set, with neither team leading by more than four points, until late in the set. 
• With Maranatha clinging to a three-point lead at 16-13, the Sabercats closed on a 9-3 to win the set and take a 1-0 advantage. 
• The second set got off to a great start for the Regents. Rockford opened with a quick 9-4 run, to take an early five-point lead. Three different Regents scored over that span, led by a trio of kills from Jose Padron Garcia and two kills from Marcus Pennington. 
• Rockford's lead continued to hover around four or five points until late in the set. 
• With the Regents still holding a 17-13 advantage, the Sabercats used a 7-2 run to take their first lead of the second set. 
• The Regents scored the next point to tie it at 20-20, but unfortunately, the Sabercats ran off five straight points to win the second set 25-20 and take a 2-0 lead. 
• After quickly falling behind 4-1 in the third set, the Regents regrouped and scored the next nine points to jump out to a 10-4 lead. Marcus Pennington led the Regent charge with three service aces over that span.
• However, Maranatha responded with an 8-2 run of its own, to knot the match at 12-12. 
• The two schools then traded points for much of the remainder of the match. 
• With Maranatha clinging to a 20-19 advantage, the Sabercats used a 4-2 run to take 24-21 lead and secure three match points. 
• However, Rockford was quickly able to dispose of the first two, the second coming off an assisted block from Marcus Pennington and Jose Padron Garcia. 
• Unfortunately, the Sabercats scored the next point to win the set 25-23 and the match 3-0.

• Jose Padron Garcia led Rockford with a team-high 8 kills, a season-high 10 digs and 2 block assists.
• Randall Simental finished with 7 kills and 8 digs.
• Marcus Pennington added 5 kills, a season-high 5 block assists and 1 assist.
• Maurice Hogan had a season-high 5 kills, 4 digs, 1 solo block and 1 block assist.
• Jorge Pando added a team-high 22 assists, 8 digs and 3 block assists. 

Rockford returns to the court on Wednesday, March 11 at Aurora University. The match has a scheduled start time of 7 PM.