MARIETTA, Ohio – Playing in front of a spirited Homecoming crowd at the Ban Johnson Arena, the Marietta College volleyball team battled one of the Ohio Athletic Conference's top teams before ultimately falling to Heidelberg University, 3-1, (25-16, 19-25, 25-14 and 25-17) Friday (Oct. 16) evening. With the loss, Marietta moves to 14-7 overall and 3-1 in OAC play, while Heidelberg improved to 18-4 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
Marietta started the match with plenty of energy and grabbed the early momentum. Back-to-back points from an
AnnaBelle Hacker (Centerville, Ohio/Alter) block and an
Elyse Smith (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East) kill gave the Pioneers a quick 2-0 lead. The opening set remained tight through the early stages, with kills from
Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and
Kendyl Cannon (Senecaville, Ohio/Meadowbrook) helping Marietta stay within striking distance. After the score was tied 5-5, Heidelberg began to find its rhythm offensively. A series of kills from Riley Tople and Emily Miller sparked a decisive 10-3 run that turned an 8-8 contest into a 15-8 Student Prince advantage. Marietta attempted to rally behind strong net play from Hacker, who combined on several blocks, while
Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook) delivered a service ace to help trim the gap. The Pioneers closed within 16-11, but Heidelberg answered by winning eight of the next 10 points to create separation. A late Marietta push highlighted by points from Launder and a block from Hacker and Cannon brought the score to 24-16 before Heidelberg secured set one, 25-16.
The Pioneers established control early in the second set thanks to kills from Piehler,
McKenzie Heil (Westlake, Ohio/Huron), and Hacker. Consecutive Hacker kills pushed Marietta's lead to 11-6 and energized the Homecoming crowd. Heidelberg chipped away and eventually closed within 20-19 behind the play of Sophia Simon and Tople, but Marietta never relinquished its advantage. Heil recorded several timely kills, while Piehler continued to provide offense from the outside. Leading 21-19, the Pioneers closed the frame in dominant fashion. Launder produced a kill before serving an ace during a 4-0 finishing run. Heidelberg committed consecutive attack errors on the final two points as Marietta captured set two, 25-19.
The third set belonged largely to Heidelberg, which seized control almost immediately. Tople delivered three early kills and Reagan Davis added a service ace as the Student Princes raced out to an 8-1 advantage. Marietta regrouped midway through the set and received points from Smith, Piehler, Hacker, and Heil to cut into the deficit. Service aces from Smith and
Sarah Podkul (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) helped the Pioneers generate momentum, and Heil consistently found success offensively. However, each time Marietta threatened, Heidelberg answered. Simon registered several kills during a key run, while Miller and Tople continued to finish attacks at a high percentage. The Student Princes eventually stretched the lead to 22-12 before Marietta collected two late points. Heidelberg closed out set three, 25-14.
Seeking to force a fifth set, Marietta battled throughout the fourth frame after Heidelberg jumped in front 4-0. The Pioneers responded with a service ace from
Kamryn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) and a pair of kills from Heil to narrow the deficit to 5-4. The Student Princes, however, maintained their composure and used kills from Simon, Miller, and Tople to gradually rebuild a cushion. Marietta remained within striking distance through the middle portion of the set. Hacker and Heil each provided key kills, while the defense continued to keep rallies alive behind Launder and Podkul. Trailing 22-13 late in the set, the Pioneers mounted one final rally. A
Jayden Austermiller (Peyton, Colo./Springs Studio for Academic Excellence) service ace, a Heidelberg attack error, and a Piehler block helped Marietta score four straight points and close within 22-17. The comeback attempt ultimately ran out of steam as Heidelberg answered with the final three points of the match, including kills by Miller and Soraya Jackson, to secure the 25-17 set four victory.
Hacker and Heil paced the Marietta offense with 11 kills each, while Hacker added a match-high five blocks. Piehler contributed 10 kills, and Smith directed the attack with 29 assists while adding four kills of her own. Defensively, the Pioneers were outstanding in the back row. Podkul led all players with 32 digs, while Launder recorded 28 digs and added two service aces.
Kamryn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) and
Keatyn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) each collected 12 digs.
The Pioneers will take to the road this Wednesday (Oct. 21) evening and battle Capital University in a conference matchup scheduled for 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.
