MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team was in action Saturday (Oct. 30) afternoon as they hosted Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Wesleyan in a tri-match to concluded the 2021 season. The Pioneers fell to the Yellow Jackets, 3-1 (25-14,25-11, 22-25, 25-23) and dropped the second game of the day 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) to the Battling Bishops.
Baldwin Wallace opened the first game on a quick 8-3 run. The early Marietta offense came from kills by
Ella Boyer (Bay Village, Ohio/Saint Joseph Academy),
Mia Silva (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton), and
Becca Phelps (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive). After the Yellow Jackets led 10-4, the Pioneers rattled off five straight points to trim the lead to 10-9. The run was sparked by kills from Phelps,
Maris Kaiser (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy), Boyer, and an ace from
Braya Elsea (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm). Baldwin Wallace scored eight of the next nine points to lead 18-10. The Yellow Jackets continued to play well and won the first set, 25-14.
Baldwin Wallace carried their momentum over to the second set to lead 7-3. The Yellow Jackets continued to play well and extended their lead to 12-5. Marietta battled for the entire set, but Baldwin Wallace won 25-11.
The third set was close early, as the set was tied three separate times, and remained deadlocked at 3-3. Five of the next six points went to the Yellow Jackets, to lead 8-4. The Pioneers scored five straight points to lead 9-8. The run was sparked by a kill from Boyer. Baldwin Wallace instantly answered with four points to lead 12-9. After the Yellow Jackets held a 16-13 edge, four consecutive points gave Marietta a 17-16 advantage. The run saw kills from Kaiser, Boyer, Silva, and an ace from
Jenna Szabelski (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson). The set was close late, as it was tied seven different times, and remained tied at 22-22. The Pioneers scored the final three points, and won 25-22.
The fourth set was back and forth early and remained tied at 6-6. The Yellow Jackets tallied three straight points and led 9-6. After Baldwin Wallace led 10-7, Marietta scored five of the next six points and led 12-11. The run saw a pair of kills by Boyer and an ace from Szabelski. The set stayed tight, and the Pioneers maintained a 21-20 edge behind a kill from Phelps. The Yellow Jacket scored five of the final seven points to win, 25-22.
Boyer led the offense in game one with 11 kills. Phelps added to the offense with 10 kills and five total blocks in the match. The defense was led by
Makayla Schilling (Blacklick, Ohio/Licking Heights), she had a game high 24 digs.
Marietta scored the first four points in the first set of the second match. The early spark was provided by kills from Boyer,
Brooke Trimble (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay), and Silva. Ohio Wesleyan battled back and tied the set at 7-7. After the set was tied 9-9, six straight Pioneer points made the score 15-9. The run was highlighted by a pair of kills by Silva and an ace from Schilling. The Battling Bishops went on a 9-2 run to take an 18-17 edge. Marietta could not regain the lead, and fell 25-20.
Once again the Pioneers jumped out to an early second set lead, behind a pair of kills from Silva, and an ace from Boyer. Ohio Wesleyan battled back to tie the set at 6-6. The set remained tight but an ace from Elsea put Marietta on top 10-8. The Battling Bishops scored seven of the next eight points to hold a 15-11 edge. Later in the set, four straight Marietta points tied the set at 20-20. The run saw back to back kills from Boyer and Phelps. Ohio Wesleyan scored five of the final six points to win, 25-21.
The Pioneers opened the third frame on a 4-1 run capped by an ace from
Alayna Ricker (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove). Marietta continued to play well and back to back kills from Boyer put the Pioneers up 8-4. The Battling Bishop answered with an 8-1 run that saw them take a 12-9 edge. Marietta battled back to tie the set at 13 points apiece behind an ace from Ricker. The set was close through the middle of the frame and the Pioneers held a 20-18 edge behind a kill from Elsea. Ohio Wesleyan closed the frame on a 7-1 run to lead, 25-21.
Once again the offense was led by Boyer, she had 12 kills and a pair of aces in the match. Phelps added 10 kills and a block in the game. Schilling led the defense with 14 digs in the match.
Marietta concluded the 2021 season with an overall record of 5-19 overall and finished the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) slate with a record of 2-7.
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.
