MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team was defeated by Muskingum University 3-0 (25-8, 25-23, 25-17) on Wednesday (Oct. 27) evening inside Ban Johnson Arena. With the loss the Pioneers are now 5-17 overall and 2-6 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, and with the win the Fighting Muskies improve to 15-9 overall and 6-2 in the OAC.
Muskingum got off to a quick start as they led 4-1 to open the first set. Marietta battled back with three of the next four points to make the score 5-4. The early Pioneer offense came from a kill by
Becca Phelps (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive) and an ace from
Braya Elsea (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm). The Fighting Muskies rattled off five straight points to lead, 10-4, which forced a Marietta timeout. Out of the break, Muskingum closed the set on an 15-4 run to win the set, 25-8.
The second set was tied numerous times early and remained deadlocked at 3-3. The early offense came from a pair of kills by Phelps. The Fighting Muskies scored three of the next four points to lead 6-4. The Pioneers battled back to tie the second set at eight points apiece, behind a kill from
Ella Boyer (Bay Village, Ohio/Saint Joseph Academy). The set remained a tight battle as it was tied at 12-12, 13-13, 14-14, 15-15, 16-16, a kill by Muskingum put them up 17-16 which forced a Marietta timeout. Out of the timeout, back to back kills by
Mia Silva (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) and
Brooke Trimble (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) put the Pioneers on top 18-17. A service ace by Phelps made the score 21-20 in favor of Marietta and forced a Fighting Muskies timeout. The Pioneers continued to play well and led 23-21 to force a second Muskingum timeout. Out of the break the Fighting Muskies tied the set at 23-23 to force a Marietta timeout. Muskingum scored the final two points of the set, and won 25-23.
After
Lauren Radalia (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak) scored the opening point of the third set, the Fighting Muskies answered with three straight points to lead, 3-1. The Pioneers kept the set close at 6-4 behind a kill from Trimble. Muskingum answered with six of the next seven points to lead 12-5. Later in the set, the Fighting Muskies took a 24-14 edge. Marietta answered with three straight points, behind a kill and an ace from Boyer.
The Pioneers were led by Phelps, she had 11 kills in the match. Silva added to the offense with seven kills. Elsea led the defense with eight digs in game. Boyer added six digs, and three aces in the match.
Marietta will return to the court Saturday (Oct. 30) when they host Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Wesleyan, with the first match scheduled for 1 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.
