LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Marietta College volleyball team lost to Transylvania University 3-0 (24-26, 20-25, 23-25) on Friday (Sept. 19) evening.  With the loss the Pioneers are now 9-2 overall and with the victory Transylvania is now 9-4 overall and 2-1.   

Transylvania rushed out to an 11-3 lead in the first set with the help of four kills by Isabella Myers.   Marietta fought back with five straight point, fueled by a pair of kills from Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook), to cut the lead to three.  Later in the match, with Transylvania leading 19-14, Marietta went on a seven-point rally to take the lead, 21-19. Transylvania answered with three of their own to change the lead again.  Launder answered with two more kills for another Marietta lead change, 23-22.  Transylvania again fought back, this time tying the game at 24-all and then took the final two points to claim the first set 26-24

Transylvania again started quick in the second set, rushing out to a 10-4 lead.  Jillian Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) tried to keep the score close as she powered a trio of kills, but Marietta fell behind 13-6.  Later in the set, Marietta got a kill from Launder, Fellers, and AnnaBelle Hacker (Centerville, Ohio/Alter) to cut the deficit to one, but Transylvania answered with three kills from Lilly Kaiser to give them a five-point cushion.   Marietta could not make up the difference and Transylvania  took the second frame, 25-20.  

The home team Pioneers again jumped out 6-1 lead in the third set, but Marietta was not ready to give up.  Launder, Karley Allwood (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth), and Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina) each scored a pair of kills, tying the game at 11-all.  Transylvania took control as they took eight of the next 11 points, four off of kills from Myers.  But Marietta made another comeback as they took four of five possessions and found themselves tied up at 23, but gave up the final two points on a pair of errors.  Transylvania won 25-23.   

The Pioneer offense was led by Fellers with 13 kills and also provided 12 digs.  Launder finished with 12 kills.   Emory Spitler (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) collected 38 assists and Keira Shannon (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) led the defensive effort with 15 digs in the match.

Marietta will return to the court Friday (Sept. 26) when they travel to participate in the Hope College Invitational.  The Pioneers will battle the host Hope College, with 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 Twitter and Instagram.