COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team swept Capital University on Tuesday (March 23) evening.  The Pioneer won the first game in straight sets 3-0, (25-18, 25-10, 25-19) and took game two in straight sets 3-0 (25-6, 25-11, 25-20).

Head Coach Kristy Newman said, "I am so proud of the discipline my team had tonight.  The women pushed and played Pioneer paced volleyball."  

Marietta opened the first set by scoring three of the first four points to lead, 3-1 behind kills from Sam Ritenour (Jeffersonville, Ohio/Miami Trace), and Maggie Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington).  After the set was 6-5 in favor of the Pioneers, Marietta took a 10-5 advantage behind four straight points.  The quick run saw kills from Becca Phelps (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive) and Maris Kaiser (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy).  The set remained close at 15-12, but the Pioneers rattled off six consecutive points to lead 21-12.  The run was led by Kaiser, she had a pair of kills during the span, and Hailey Fuller (Newark, Ohio/Granville) added a kill.  Marietta won the opening frame, 25-18.  

After Capital scored the first two points of the second set, the Pioneers answered with five straight points to lead, 5-2.  The run was sparked by back to back kills from Fellers, and saw an ace from April Davis (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora).  After the Crusaders made the score, 5-4, Marietta rattled off 15 of the next 16 points to hold a 20-5 edge.  The run was highlighted by five kills from Phelps, and a pair of service aces from Makayla Schilling (Blacklick, Ohio/Licking Heights).  The Pioneers took the second set, 25-10.

Marietta carried its momentum over to the third set, as Kaiser and Fellers tallied early kills to lead, 3-0.  After the Pioneers led 12-8, Capital tied the third set with four straight points.  Marietta responded to score six of the next seven to 19-9.  The run was a well-rounded attack with kills from Maddie Nader (Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion), Fellers, and Ritenour.  The Pioneers had a pair of late service aces from Nader and Braya Elsea (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm), to give Marietta a 25-19 third set win.

In the first set of game one Davis tallied her 1,000th career kill for the Pioneers.  Fellers led the offense in the first match with 12 kills, and four block assists.  Phelps added double-digit kills with 11.  Schilling led the defensive effort with 11 digs, and Davis pitched in with nine digs in game one.    

The Pioneers got off to a quick start in the second match of the night, as they held an 8-1 edge.  The early offense came from kills by Fuller and Ritenour.  Marietta dominated the opening frame, scoring the final 12 points, to win 25-6.  The final kill of the set was driven home by Kaiser.

The Pioneers grabbed an early 8-3 lead in the second set, behind kills from Fuller and Nader, and service aces from Elsea and Schilling.  Marietta pulled away late in the set, when they scored nine of the final 10 points, to win the set 25-11.  The late run was led by three kills from Phelps.  

The Pioneers opened the third frame with an 8-5 edge, behind kills from Fuller, Nader, and Fellers.  Capital answered with seven of the next eight points to lead 12-9.  Marietta battled back to tie the set at 13 points apiece behind an ace from Abbi Thompson (Commercial Point, Ohio/Teays Valley).  The set remained close and was deadlocked at 19-19.  The Pioneers scored six of the final seven points and won the final frame, 25-20.  

Ritenour led the Marietta offense in game two with 10 kills in the match.  Fellers had a game high six block assists in the game.

The Pioneers will return to the court Friday (March 26) when they travel to take on Wilmington University, with the first game scheduled to begin at 6 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.