MARIETTA, Ohio - The Marietta College volleyball team dropped its Ohio Athletic Conference opener 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-18) on Saturday (Oct. 2) when they hosted 13th ranked Ohio Northern. With the loss the Pioneers are now 3-11 overall and 0-1 in OAC play, and with the win the Polar Bears improve to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in OAC action.
After Ohio Northern scored the opening point of the game, Marietta grabbed a 2-1 edge behind back to back kills from
Maggie Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington). After the first set was tied at 3-3, the Polar Bears scored three of the next four points to lead, 6-4. The set stayed close, but the Pioneers trailed 14-11, behind a block from
Jenna Szabelski (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) and
Maris Kaiser (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) and a kill from
Mia Silva (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton). Ohio Northern rattled off nine of the next 11 points, and held a 23-13 edge. Marietta battled with five consecutive points to make the score 24-19. The run was sparked by a kill from Fellers. The Polar Bears won the set, 25-19.
Ohio Northern carried their momentum over to the second set, and held a 6-2 advantage early. The Pioneer point came on a kill from
Ella Boyer (Bay Village, Ohio/Saint Joseph Academy). Marietta battled through the middle of the set, and trimmed the lead to 12-9 behind kills from Szabelski, Fellers, and Silva. The Polar Bears answered with four of the next five points and led 16-10. The Pioneers fought for the remainder of the set, but fell 25-17.
The third set was tight early, as the set was tied five times, and remained deadlocked at 7-7. Marietta scored the next two points on a kill from Szabelski and a service ace from
Makayla Schilling (Blacklick, Ohio/Licking Heights), to put the Pioneers on top 9-7. Ohio Northern answered with six of the next seven points to lead, 13-10. Marietta responded with three straight points to tie the set at 13-13 behind a pair of kills from Silva. The Polar Bears scored seven of the next nine points and took a 20-15 edge. The Pioneers trimmed the lead to 20-18 with kills from Boyer,
Lauren Radalia (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak), and Kaiser. Ohio Northern scored the final five points, and won, 25-18.
The Marietta offense was led by Silva, she had a match high 11 kills, eight digs, and two solo blocks.
Braya Elsea (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm) led the defense with 12 digs in the match.
The Pioneers will return to action Wednesday (Oct. 6) when they travel to take on Otterbein, with the game scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow all 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.
