Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team posted a pair of 3-1 victories on the opening night of the River City Tournament Friday (Aug. 31) in Fenton Court.

The Pioneers defeated Ohio Valley University 25-6, 25-10, 26-28 and 25-17. Marietta downed Bluffton 25-27, 25-16, 25-22 and 25-23 in its second match.

Against Ohio Valley the Pioneers' service attack was deadly. Marietta notched 24 service aces, one short of the school record. Sophomore Brittney Merritt (Akron/Copley) had eight aces and freshman Mary Ervin (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) recorded seven.

Sophomore Rachel Hackenberg (Canal Winchester/Franklin Heights) led the Pioneers with seven kills. Senior Alex VanGundy (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) added six kills, while junior Paige DeVriendt (Bowling Green/Bowling Green), sophomore Samantha Clark (Dalton/Dalton) and freshman Catherine Waters (Monongahela, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) each had five.

Senior setter Ally Jenkins (Twinsburg/Walsh Jesuit) recorded 47 assists. Senior libero Jen Braun (Chagrin Falls/Kenston) paced the defense with 17 digs. Junior Amber Wiley (Brunswick/Brookside) added 14 digs, while Ervin had 11.

The trio of Hackenberg, DeVriendt and VanGundy each posted double figures in kills in the win over Bluffton. Hackenberg had a match-high 13, while DeVriendt and VanGundy each had 11.

Sophomore setter Laura Mauer (Terre Haute, Ind./North) dished out 43 assists. Mauer and Hackenberg each blocked five Bluffton attacks. Braun's 14 digs was tops for the Pioneers, while Ervin had 13 and Mauer had 12.

Marietta plays Waynesburg College Saturday (Sept. 1) at 10:30 a.m. and then pairings for the championship (2 p.m.) and third place (12:15 p.m.)  matches will be set.