SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team fell at Wittenberg University 3-1 (12-25, 15-25, 25-20, 16-25) on Tuesday (Sept. 7) evening inside the Pam Evans Smith Arena. With the loss the Pioneers are now 2-3 overall and with the win the Tigers improve to 2-3 on the season.
Marietta scored the opening point of the match behind a kill from
Lauren Radalia (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak). Wittenberg battled back and held a 5-3 edge, with the Pioneers points coming from a kill from
Ella Boyer (Bay Village, Ohio/Saint Joseph Academy). The Tigers were able to rattle off nine straight points and took a 14-3 advantage. The Pioneers battled for the remainder of the set when
Mia Silva (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) and Radalia each had a kill late in the set. Wittenberg won the first set, 25-12.
Marietta jumped out to a quick 2-1 lead in the second set, behind a service ace from
Makayla Schilling (Blacklick, Ohio/Licking Heights). The Tigers answered with a 13-1 run that saw them take a 14-3 edge. The Pioneers outscored Wittenberg, 12-9 over the remainder of the set, but the Tigers won the set, 25-15.
The third set was a back and forth battle, as the set was tied seven times and remained deadlocked at seven points apiece. The early Marietta offense came from kills by
Maris Kaiser (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy),
Becca Phelps (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive), and Radalia. The Pioneers rattled off five straight points to lead 12-7 with a kill from Silva and back to back service aces from
Adrianna Salyer (Austinville, Va./Carroll County). Marietta continued to play well and stretched its lead to 15-8 behind kills from Silva and Radalia. Wittenberg cut into the Pioneers lead with four straight points, to make the score 15-12. The Tigers continued to battled and trimmed the Marietta led to 18-17. The Pioneers responded to score six straight points, and take a 24-17 advantage. Marietta scored the final point of the set on a kill from Phelps, and won 25-20.
Wittenberg opened the fourth set with an 8-4 edge, with the Pioneer points coming from
Alayna Ricker (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove), Phelps, and Radalia. The Tigers continued to play well and led 14-8. Marietta battled, but could not trim the Wittenberg lead, and lost the final set, 25-16.
The Pioneer offense was led by Radalia, she had nine kills and a block assist in the match. Silva added to the offense with six kills and a solo block.
Braya Elsea (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm) led the defense with 15 digs in the match. Radalia, Salyer, Schilling, and
Jenna Szabelski (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) all tied for a game high two service aces.
Marietta will return to the court Friday (Sept 10) when they travel to take on 10th ranked Berry and Washington and Lee, with the first match of the day starting at 2 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.
