GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team defeated Denison University, 3-1 (25-12, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21) on Wednesday (Sept. 25) evening. With the victory the Pioneers improve to 11-0 overall and with the loss the Big Red falls to 6-8 overall.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 10-3 lead in early action of set one, led by a pair of kills from
Emory Spitler (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon). Marietta then scored four straight, two off of kills by
Mia Silva (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton), to take a commanding 14-4 advantage. Denison tried to hang around but could not get closer than eight points. The Pioneers took the final five points, getting two kills apiece from Silva and
Maggie Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) and would claim victory, 25-12.
In set number two, the Big Red gave the Pioneers several points off of attack errors, falling behind 10-6. The Pioneers then scored three straight, getting a kill from Spitler and Fellers to extend the lead to seven. Denison tried to inch back into the contest, cutting the lead to three on two separate occasions., but the Pioneers kept up the pressure. Marietta would take five of the final six points, including a set-winning kill from
Maggie Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington), to finish off set two, 25-18.
The third set was close as both teams were deadlocked throughout much of the action. Every time one team would inch out to a lead, the other would tie or take back the lead. The score was tied seven times on the away to an 18-all deadlock. The Big Red took five of the next eight points, three from kills Ayla Dunbar, to take a 23-21 lead. Marietta could not overcome the deficit and Denison took set three, 25-22, forcing a fourth set.
Silva got Marietta rolling in set four, collecting four kills on the way to an early 10-7 lead. The Pioneers got kills from Maggie and
Jillian Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) to fuel another run, taking five of the next six points, to lead 15-9. Denison stayed alive and hung around to cut the lead to 20-18 late in the set. That would be as close as they would get as Marietta closed out with a power display, including three kills from
Jillian Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington), to take the set and the match, 25-21.
The Marietta offense was led by
Maggie Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) with 16 kills and six blocks.
Mia Silva (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) added 14 kills and four blocks.
Emory Spitler (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) finished with 50 assists.
Keira Shannon (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) led a stellar defensive effort with 18 digs.
Maggie Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) also finished with 13 digs and
Riley Hohman (Copley, Ohio/Copley) finished with 10 digs.
Marietta will return to the court Friday (Oct. 4) when they travel to take on Ohio Northern University to begin Ohio Athletic Conference play. The game scheduled to begin at 7 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 X and Instagram.
