Pioneer volleyball splits pair at Heidelberg
Marietta falls to Heidelberg and defeats Bluffton

Sept. 15, 2007
TIFFIN, Ohio — The Marietta College volleyball team opened its Ohio Athletic Conference schedule Saturday (Sept. 15) as part of a tri-match at Heidelberg College. The Pioneers began the day with a 3-1 (30-21, 25-30, 30-17, 30-23) loss to the host Student Princes but bounced back to defeat fellow-guest Bluffton 3-2 (7-30, 30-21, 30-21, 26-30, 15-13) to improve to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in the OAC.

Senior Paige Williams (Richmond, Ind.) led Marietta with 17 kills against Heidelberg and added 11 against Bluffton. Senior Marissa Barnhart (Avon) and junior Caity Shirk (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) both added seven kills against the Student Princes, while junior Sarah Vadaj (Streetsboro/Kent Roosevelt) had 10 kills versus the Beavers.

Shirk compiled 49 assists—28 against Heidelberg and 21 against Bluffton—on the day.

Four Pioneers had double-digit dig performances in the first match. Senior Casey Davis (Amanda/Amanda Clearcreek), who added 22 digs in the second match, led the way with 21 digs against Heidelberg, while sophomore Becca Holzworth (North Olmsted) had 19, Shirk contributed 15 and senior Jessica Craig (Uniontown/Lake) finished with 10. Holzworth also added 10 against Bluffton.

Vadaj (four assists and one solo) and Barnhart (three assists and one solo) combined for 5.5 total blocks in the second match of the afternoon.

Marietta is back in action Friday (Sept. 21) when it participates in the York (Pa.) College Invitational. The Pioneers will take on Lebanon Valley (Pa.) at 5 p.m. and then Alvernia (Pa.) at 7 p.m. On Saturday (Sept. 22), Marietta takes on Virginia Wesleyan at 9:30 a.m. and then closes with a match against host York at 1:30 p.m.