Marquette has come a long way from playing in the Great Midwest Conference just a dozen years ago, but Marquette's 3-0 (30-21, 30-21, 30-21) loss to St. John's made it clear it has a long way to go.
Sitting fourth in the Big East standings at 9-4, Marquette remains one of the better teams in the conference but fails to make a blip on the national radar.
St. John's, the nation's No. 26 team according to the CSTV/AVCA Coaches Poll, has lost only 10 games (and one match) all year, while Marquette has dropped 12 matches. The last time the Red Storm dropped a game was on Sept. 24.
"St. John's is clearly the best executing team in the Big East," head coach Pati Rolf said.
Sunday's match had several telling signs of the difference between a great team and a good team. The poise St. John's displayed before the game seemed a little strange, as the team looked to be having too much fun.
There is a fine line between an informal warm-up and horsing around, and the Red Storm teetered on it. Even from the stands, that loose swagger was intimidating. St. John's simply knew it would win.
St. John's self-assurance continued throughout the match and was evidenced by the aftermath of every point.
Red Storm point celebrations resembled a gathering slightly more rousing than a funeral. On the other side of the net, Marquette celebrated every point with an enthusiastic huddle.
The noticeable difference between the two teams was the expectations. St. John's players were visibly upset after a point did not fall their way, and the few errors the Red Storm did make were followed by laughter of all things. Great teams can forget mishaps quickly and come back, and St. John's did just that.
As a whole, the Red Storm did not look physically intimidating, but their players knew their role on the team and the expectations of them. Following a mistake, only a pat on the backside was necessary before the team was ready for the ensuing serve.
St. John's methodical method of play caused too many problems for Marquette, which rarely had momentum.
"They play a smart, European-style game," Rolf said. "No one else does what St. John's does. They just play and make their opponents make mistakes."
Communication among the Marquette players seemed to be a problem, and signs of frustration showed from drooping shoulders and deep sighs to helpless looks to coaching instruction.
Defensively, the Red Storm always seemed to be in the right spot to dig, probably a combination of their anticipation and Marquette's predictability. The method of digs was another telling measure of superiority. Where Marquette had body-sprawling, one-handed flailings, St. John's seemed to always be in position.
Marquette's kills were often tips, contrasting from the Red Storm's forceful kills. St. John's countered the Golden Eagles' power kills with stuffs inside the 10-foot line. Whereas Marquette's tips were last-chance efforts to keep points alive, St. John's tipped the ball with finesse.
"We're trying to get to that level," Rolf said. "It takes hard work for consistency and better execution."
The Golden Eagles wrap up their Big East schedule Friday at Seton Hall. With a fourth-place finish in the regular season, Marquette likely will play Cincinnati or Pittsburgh in the opening round of the Big East tournament.