HUNTINGDON, Pa. — The Marietta College volleyball team had a tall task Friday (Sept. 5) evening as they traveled to participate in the Juniata ASICS Invitational and had to open play against the #1 team in the country, host Juniata College.  Although the Pioneers played tough and took the third set, the Eagle were "as advertised" and won the match 3-1 (21-25, 11-25, 25-19, 21-25).  The Pioneers fall to 3-1 and the Eagles improve to 4-0.
 
Marietta jumped out to an 8-5 lead in set one, fueled by a combination of Eagle errors and a pair of kills from Jillian Fellers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington).  After some traded possessions, the Pioneers got kills from Fellers and Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina) to put the score at 15-13.  Juniata came back to tie at 15 and then took an impressive seven straight points, three from kills from Audrey Muth, to take the biggest lead at that point, 22-16.  Marietta fought back to cut the lead to three, but Maggie Hayes scored the final kill and the Eagles took set one, 25-21.
 
Juniata jumped out to an early 10-2 lead in set two, and Marietta never really recovered.  Fellers got a pair of kills to fall, but Juniata answered with another run that put the score at 21-7.  The Pioneers were able to muster kills from Piehler, Karley Allwood (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth), and AnnaBelle Hacker (Centerville, Ohio/Alter), but the difference to too large to overcome and Juniata took set two 25-11.
 
With their backs against the wall, it looked like it could be an early end to the evening as the Pioneers trailed 5-1 early in set three.  Fellers got the Pioneers back on track with a pair of kills and, later in the match, Marietta took four straight points to take the lead, 11-10. After some traded points, Marietta took five straight, fueled by a pair of kills from Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook), giving Marietta a 19-15 advantage.  The Eagle attempted a comeback but Marietta stayed in the lead as Piehler and Fellers closed out with kills.  Marietta took set three, 25-19.
 
Set four began with a back-breaking 10-1 run by the Eagles and Marietta struggled to answer early on.  The Pioneers gained some momentum with a pair of Fellers kills and an additional trio of kills from Hacker to get them back in the contest.  Later, Marietta took five straight, fueled by three kills from Piehler, and found themselves only down by one point.  Juniata was able to just stay a step ahead and held off Marietta in the end, taking set four and the match, 25-12.
 
Feller led the Pioneer attack with 14 kills.  Piehler finished with 11 kills and Hacker ended with eight kills and two blocks.  Emory Spitler (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) finished with 33 assists and Keira Shannon (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) led the defensive effort with 11 digs.
 
It doesn't get incredibly easier for the Pioneers on day two.  Marietta will first battle Muhlenberg College on Saturday (Sept. 6) at 12 p.m. and then will have to deal with the #18 ranked Ithaca College at 5 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.