MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College women's volleyball team defeated Capital University, 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20) on Tuesday (Oct. 15) evening inside Ban Johnson Arena. The win improves the Pioneers record to 12-11 overall and 1-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), and with the loss the Crusaders fall to 9-16 overall and 0-4 in OAC play.
Capital opened the first set with a 5-2 advantage. Marietta responded to tie the set at 8-8 behind kills from
Hailey Fuller (Newark, Ohio/Granville),
Sam Ritenour (Jeffersonville, Ohio/Miami Trace), and
Alissa Ginther (Beverly, Ohio/Fort Frye). The Crusaders answered to take a 10-8 edge before the Pioneers scored six of the next seven points. The run was highlighted by a pair of service aces by
Brooke Trimble (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay). Marietta maintained its lead at 20-15 before Capital rattled off seven straight points to take a 22-20 edge. The Crusaders won the first set, 25-22.
Capital jumped out to a 7-2 edge to open the second frame. The Crusaders were able to maintain their edge and led, 12-6. The Pioneers responded with eight straight points to take a 14-12 advantage. The run was sparked by kills from
Maris Kaiser (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) and
Maddie Nader (Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion), and capped by an ace from
April Davis (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora). The teams traded points late in the set, and Marietta won the second frame, 25-19.
The third set started as a back and forth battle, as the set remained deadlocked at 10-10. Later in the set, three quick points put the Pioneers up 17-16 behind a kill from Fuller and Nader. Marietta held the Crusaders at bay and scored the final two points of the set to win, 25-21. The final points were scored by Nader and Ritenour.
Capital led the fourth frame 3-1 early, but the Pioneers rattled off four straight points to lead 6-4. The early offense was led by three straight aces from Trimble. Marietta maintained their lead throughout the fourth and final set. The Pioneers won the final frame, 25-20.
The Marietta offense was led by Ritenour as she had a game high 15 kills, and notched three solo blocks in the game. Ginther and Kaiser each pitched in with 11 kills in the game, and Kaiser had a game high five block assists. The Pioneers defense was led by Davis as she had a game high 18 digs, and a pair of aces.
Braya Elsea (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm) pitched in with 15 digs in the match.
Marietta will return to the court Thursday (Oct. 17) when they host Denison, with the game scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram
