Pioneer volleyball swept by Mount Union 3-0
Tuesday is the first time Marietta has been swept all season

Oct. 16, 2007
ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss at the hand of host Mount Union College Tuesday (Oct. 16) evening. The Purple Raiders, who received votes in the most recent CSTV/AVCA Division III poll, became the first team all season to sweep the Pioneers. Mount Union won 30-21, 30-20 and 30-14.

With the loss, Marietta falls to 12-11 overall and 2-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Mount Union improved to 25-4 overall and 5-1 in league play.

Senior middle blocker Marissa Barnhart (Avon) led the offensive attack with nine kills in 19 attempts. Junior middle blocker Sarah Vadaj (Streetsboro/Kent Roosevelt) added eight kills, while senior right side hitter Paige Williams (Richmond, Ind.) finished with seven. Junior setters Emily Wheatley (Wyoming) and Caity Shirk (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) dished out 16 and 13 assists, respectively.

Defensively, the Pioneers had a successful night at the net, combining for 17.5 total blocks. Barnhart paced the squad with three solo blocks and four block assists. Vadaj contributed one solo block and three block assists, while Williams added one solo block and two block assists. Senior libero Casey Davis (Amanda/Amanda Clearcreek) led the back line with 39 digs in the loss.

The Pioneers continue their OAC season Friday (Oct. 19) night when they travel to Ada, Ohio, to take on No. 12 Ohio Northern at 7 p.m. Marietta will then return to Fenton Court Tuesday (Oct. 23) evening when it plays host to Capital University at 7 p.m. The match against the Crusaders will be a Dig for the Cure. Both teams are taking donations. The Pioneers have set a team goal to raise over $2,500 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in 2007.