NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Marietta College battled throughout the matchup, including a near-set victory in the second frame, but host Muskingum University held off the Pioneers for a 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-20) Ohio Athletic Conference win Saturday (Oct. 24) morning. With the defeat, Marietta drops to 15-8 overall and 4-2 in the OAC. Muskingum improves to 17-6 and 3-3 in conference play.
Marietta opened the match with energy, racing to a 5-1 advantage behind a kill from
McKenzie Heil (Westlake, Ohio/Huron), a service ace from
Keatyn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown), and consecutive points from
Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook). The Pioneers maintained control through the early portion of the set and led 7-2 after a Muskingum attack error. The Muskies, however, quickly shifted momentum, scoring seven straight points and turning a five-point deficit into a 9-7 lead. Marietta stayed within striking distance, cutting the deficit to 12-10 on a
Emily Piehler (Medina, Ohio/Medina) kill and later trimming the margin to 16-15 following a Launder kill and a
Jayden Austermiller (Peyton, Colo./Springs Studio for Academic Excellence) ace. That would be as close as the Pioneers would get. Muskingum closed the set with a dominant 9-1 stretch and sealed the 25-16 set one victory.
Muskingum jumped out quickly in set two, scoring the first five points and building an 8-2 advantage. The Pioneers responded with one of their best stretches of the match. Austermiller ignited a six-point run from the service line that included back-to-back aces and an
AnnaBelle Hacker (Centerville, Ohio/Alter) kill, helping Marietta erase the deficit and tie the score at 8-8. The teams traded points throughout the middle of the set. Muskingum maintained a slim lead and eventually stretched the margin to 20-16 after consecutive MJ Rupp service aces. Marietta refused to go away. Launder started the comeback with a kill and later added a service ace. Piehler delivered a key kill to bring the Pioneers within 22-21 before kills from
Kendyl Cannon (Senecaville, Ohio/Meadowbrook) and Piehler tied the score at 24-24. With the set on the line, Sophia Keller hammered down a kill for set point, and Sydney Gummer followed with another kill to complete a 26-24 Muskie set two win.
The third set featured multiple lead changes and appeared headed for another tight finish. After the teams traded points early, Marietta used kills from Launder and Piehler along with several Muskingum errors to build a 14-10 cushion. Muskingum answered as Mackenzie Krous sparked an 8-0 run that completely flipped the scoreboard. The Muskies erased the four-point deficit and surged ahead 18-14 thanks to a service ace, several Marietta attack errors, and kills from Gummer and Mya Leach. Marietta continued to battle. Cannon recorded a key kill, Hacker added another, and a
Kamryn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) service ace cut the deficit to 22-19. After a Muskingum point, a Keller ball-handling error brought the Pioneers within three at 23-20. The Muskies closed the door from there. Keller registered a kill for match point, and Alexis Bradley finished the contest with a service ace to secure the 25-20 victory.
Launder and Piehler paced the Marietta attack with eight kills apiece, while
Jayden Austermiller (Peyton, Colo./Springs Studio for Academic Excellence) contributed three service aces and nine assists. Heil and Hacker added four kills apiece.
Elyse Smith (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East) led the teams with 11 assists.Defensively,
Kamryn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) and
Sarah Podkul (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) each recorded nine digs.
Marietta returns home this Wednesday (Oct. 28) for one of its most important matches of the OAC season when the Pioneers welcome Otterbein University to Ban Johnson Arena. The matchup is set 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.
