HOLLAND, Mich. — It didn't get any easier for the Marietta College volleyball team on day two of the Hope College tri-match.  A day after falling to #18-ranked Hope College, the Pioneers had the assignment of facing the team that knocked them out the NCAA Regional last year, 7th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University.  Marietta kept it close in the first set, but was still swept 3-0 (20-25, 15-25, 16-25) on Saturday (Sept. 27) morning.  With the loss, the #14-ranked Pioneers are now 9-4 while the Titans remain undefeated at 13-0.
 
The Titans jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set as IWU's Taylor French fired in a pair of service aces, but Karley Allwood (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) stopped the mini-rally with a kill.  A few possessions later, Jillian Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) powered in a kill to keep the deficit at two.  Illinois Wesleyan later scored five straight with the help of another pair of aces from French and some Pioneer attack errors, taking a 15-8 lead.  For the remainder of the set, both teams would trade several possessions, not allowing Marietta to overcome the difference.  Despite the Pioneers getting kills from Fellers, Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina), AnnaBelle Hacker (Centerville, Ohio/Alter), and Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook), the Titans were able to close out the first set, 25-20.
 
Set two had both teams rush out to a 2-2 tie, but after a pair of aces from French and a pair of kills from Eleanor Palmer, the Titans pushed out to 10-6 lead.  Later, the Titans scored five straight to take a controlling nine-point advantage.  Despite a pair of late kills from Hacker, the Titans cruised to a 25-15 set two victory.
 
Illinois Wesleyan rushed out to a 9-2 lead in set three and the Pioneers had difficulty making up the difference.  Fellers provided a trio of kills and Allwood powered another pair to get the Pioneers within seven points.  Launder later scored two straight kills but the Titans would close out the set and the match with a 25-14 final set victory.
 
Fellers led the Pioneers with eight kills and also collected 10 digs.  Piehler ended with seven kills and Launder finished with six kills.  Emory Spitler (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) dished out 27 assists.  Keira Shannon (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) led with 18 digs and Kamryn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) contributed 12 more.
 
Marietta will finally begin Ohio Athletic Conference play this Friday (Oct. 3) evening as they will welcome in Ohio Northern University to the Ban Johnson Arena.  The match is 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.