WOOSTER, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team dropped a road contest at the College of Wooster, 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 18-25, 24-26) on Tuesday (Sept. 28) evening. The Pioneers are now 3-10 overall and with the win the Fighting Scots improve to 11-5 on the season.
After the opening frame was tied at two points apiece, Marietta rattled off four consecutive points and held a 6-2 edge. The run was sparked by back to back service aces from
Alayna Ricker (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove) and a kill from
Ella Boyer (Bay Village, Ohio/Saint Joseph Academy). Wooster answered with an 8-2 run to take a 10-8 advantage. After the Fighting Scots led 12-9, The Pioneers regained a 13-12 edge. Later in the first set Wooster led 20-17, Marietta battled back to lead 23-20 behind a 6-0 run. The run was sparked by a pair of kills from
Maggie Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington), and a service ace from
Braya Elsea (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm). The Pioneers took the first set, 25-21.
Marietta opened the second set strong behind an ace from
Jenna Szabelski (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) and a kill from Fellers. The Fighting Scots responded with five straight points to lead 5-3. Wooster continued to play well and led 8-4. The Pioneers battled back with four of the next five points to trail, 9-8 behind a kill from
Mia Silva (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton), and an ace from Ricker. Marietta tied the set at 12 points apiece behind an ace from Fellers. After the set was tied at 15-15, the Fighting Scots scored five of the next six points to lead 20-16. The Pioneers were able to trim the lead to 22-20, but Wooster scored the final three points to take set two, 25-20.
The Fighting Scots carried their momentum over to the third set, as they held a 4-0 edge early. Wooster was able to maintain their edge and held a 16-10 edge midway through the set. Marietta scored four straight points behind kills from Szabelski and
Lauren Radalia (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak), which trimmed the lead to 16-14. The Fighting Scots answered with three straight points to lead 19-14, and Wooster won the third set 25-18.
The fourth set was close early, as the match was tied four times and remained deadlocked at 6-6. The early offense came from a pair of kills by Silva and a kill from
Becca Phelps (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive). The set stayed tight, but a kill from Phelps put the Pioneers on top 13-11. The Fighting Scots scored four consecutive points and held a 15-13 edge, which forced a Marietta timeout. Out of the break, the Pioneers scored four of the next five points to lead 17-16. The run was highlighted by an ace from Ricker and a kill from Fellers. Wooster answered with four straight points regain a 20-17 advantage. Marietta battled back to cut the lead to 22-21 behind a pair of kills from Phelps, which forced a Fighting Scots timeout. Out of the timeout, the Pioneers scored three of the next five points to tie the set at, 24-24. Wooster scored the final two points of the match and won 26-24.
Marietta was led by Silva, she had 11 digs, 10 kills and a block in the match. Offensively, Fellers had a team high 11 kills and three total blocks. Elsea led the defensive effort with 12 digs in the match.
The Pioneers will return to the court Saturday (Oct. 2) when they host 13th ranked Ohio Northern to open Ohio Athletic Conference play.
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.
