ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team ran into a very tough Mount Union squad on Wednesday (Oct. 29) evening.  The Purple Raiders were all too willing to play the role of spoiler and upset the Pioneers 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 23-25, 21-25).  With the loss the Pioneers fall to 15-6 overall and 6-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference play and with the win the Purple Raiders improve to 10-16 overall and 2-6 in the OAC.  

Both teams pushed out to a 4-4 tie in set one, but Marietta used kills from Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook), AnnaBelle Hacker (Centerville, Ohio/Alter), and Emory Spitler (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) and an ace from Emma Weiseman (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) to take a four-point advantage.  The Purple Raiders roared back with a pair of kills from Zoe Sweigart to tie the match at 11 and then DeLani Durst followed with a pair of kills to give Mount Union their first lead of the evening.  After Marietta called a time out, Mount continued to extend the lead as they got a trio of kills from their front line.  Marietta began a comeback after a Launder kill and a pair of aces from Keira Shannon (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community), cutting the lead to 18-16.  That would be as close as they would get as Mount kept the lead until the end.  Sweigart powered two more kills in the final possession and the Purple Raiders claimed the first set, 25-20.
 
The second set saw Marietta jump out to a 5-1 lead as Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina) provided a kill and block during the opening rally.  Mount Union chipped away at the lead, eventually tying up at 8-all as Sweigart brought another kill.  Both teams battled back and forth for the next several possessions, but Marietta took a brief two-point after a pair of kills from Hacker to lead 19-17.  The Purple Raiders fought back and re-took the lead at 21-20 as Sweigart brought a kill and block.  The Pioneers jumped back into the lead as Jillian Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) scored on consecutive kills, causing Mount Union to call another timeout.  After the pause, Mount Union could not overcome the difference and Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina) clinched the victory with a powerful kill. Marietta evened the matchup with a 25-21 set two victory.
 
The third set saw Mount Union take a 6-3 lead, fueled by a pair of kills from Sadie Thomas.  Marietta fought back to tie at six, getting kills from Hacker and Karley Allwood (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) and then took a 10-7 lead as Allwood and Piehler converted a kill apiece.  Later in the match, after a kill from Fellers and Piehler, the Pioneers led 19-16 and that caused the Purple Raiders to take a time out.  It was time well spent as Mount Union took five of the next six possession, giving them a 21-20 lead and causing Marietta to take a timeout.  Marietta could not make up the difference and Mount Union took set three, 25-23.  

The Pioneers again fell behind in the fourth set, 6-3, but rallied to tie at seven as Fellers scored a pair of kills and brought a service ace.  After several traded possessions, Marietta took the lead at 11-10 after Mount Union committed a service error.  The Raiders again turned the tables with a four point rally, but Marietta answered with kills from Fellers and Hacker to tie it back at 14.  Mount Union took control with five straight points, and even after Marietta closed the gap to one point, they could not overcome the difference.  Kills from Sweigart and Thomas would clinch the set and Mount Union would take a 25-21 final set victory.
 
The Pioneers were led by Fellers and Hacker with 12 kills apiece, with Hacker adding three blocks.  Launder added 10 kills.  Spitler distributed 43 assists and added 13 digs.  Shannon led the defensive effort with 21 digs in the match.  
 
Marietta will return to the court Friday (Oct. 31) when they host Wilmington, with the match scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.  Before the match, the Pioneers will celebrate Senior Night and honor their five seniors.
 
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.