MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College volleyball team stayed perfect in Ohio Athletic Conference play with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-25) win over Capital University Wednesday (Oct. 15) at the Ban Johnson Arena. The Pioneers improved to 13-4 overall and 4-0 in the OAC. The Comets fall to 2-17 on the season and 0-3 in the OAC.
 
Marietta jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set one as Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina) delivered a pair of kills and Keira Shannon (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) rocketed a pair of service aces.  Later in the match, the Pioneers scored four straight, capped off by a kill from Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook), to lead 16-6.  The Pioneers kept surging and the Comets could not overcome the difference.  Marietta finished off the set with the final five points, two from kills by AnnaBelle Hacker (Centerville, Ohio/Alter), claiming the 25-12 victory.
 
Marietta jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the second set as Shannon provided another pair of aces and Halee Williams (Belpre, Ohio/Belpre) collected a big kill.  Later, the Pioneers extended the lead to 21-12 as Jillian Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) scored on two consecutive possessions.  Capital attempted a comeback with a seven-point rally, getting two big kills from Chloe Preocanin, closing the deficit to two.  The rally was ended as the Comets had a service error and Emily Grant (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont) came off the bench to score the final two kills of the set, giving Marietta a 25-22 set two victory,
 
The third set saw both teams battle to a six-all tie, but the Pioneers began to take control as Fellers powered a trio of kills. Marietta gradually built a seven-point lead, which caused the Comets to take a time out, then put the match away taking six out of the last eight possessions.  Marietta claimed the set and the match with a 25-15 victory.
 
Fellers led the Pioneer attack with 15 kills. Launder added six kills and Hacker finished with five kills and two blocks.  Spitler distributed 27 assists to go along with two kills. Shannon finished with 13 digs.
 
Marietta will host a tri-match this Saturday (Oct. 18).  Carnegie Mellon University will battle at 2 p.m. and the Pioneers will take on the Tartans afterwards at 4:30 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.