ADA, Ohio — The Marietta College volleyball traveled to Ohio Northern University to participate in their ONU Invitational. The Pioneers began play Friday (Sept. 11) evening by securing a tough-fought 3-1 victory (25-13, 22-25, 25-19, 26-24) over Berea College. With the win, the Pioneers improve to 4-3 on the season. The Mountaineers dropped to 1-4 overall.
Marietta set a dominant tone early in the opening set.
Jayden Austermiller (Peyton, Colo./Springs Studio for Academic Excellence) sparked the offense with an early service ace, helping build an 11-5 lead behind kills from
Karley Allwood (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) and
Kendyl Cannon (Senecaville, Ohio/Meadowbrook). Late in the set, Austermiller went on another run at the line, dropping in two more aces and driving a 6-0 Marietta run to pull ahead 20-10.
Karly Launder (Pleasant City, Ohio/Meadowbrook) and
McKenzie Heil (Westlake, Ohio/Huron) controlled the net down the stretch before Allwood put away a set-winning kill off an Austermiller assist to take set one, 25-13.
Berea responded in the second set, capitalizing on early Pioneer errors and net play from Nashaliz Garcia and Sydney Makle-Bradle to jump out to a 7-4 lead. Marietta rallied behind off-the-bench offense from
Emily Grant (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont), who supplied four quick kills during a 5-0 run to give Marietta a 20-16 lead. However, Berea closed the set on a 9-2 run, fueled by kills from Genesis Casillas and a set-ending service ace by Aryanna Erosa to claim set two, 25-22 and level the match at one set apiece.
The third set remained tight through the mid-way point, knotting at 8-8 and 12-12. Heil energized the Marietta defense with multiple blocks at the net, while setters
Elyse Smith (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East) and Austermiller spread the ball effectively to Launder and Grant. Leading 18-14,
Sarah Podkul (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) extended the advantage with a service ace. Marietta held off a late Berea push before Launder delivered a service ace and forced a set-ending attack error to claim set three, 25-19.
The fourth set featured some anxious moments with seven ties and multiple lead changes. Trailing 6-4, Marietta surged ahead on a 6-0 run behind back-to-back service aces from Austermiller to take a 14-9 lead. Berea fought back, relying on kills from Garcia and Casillas to lock the set at 21-21 and eventually earn set point at 24-23. With their backs against the wall, the Pioneers turned to Allwood, who smashed consecutive kills off sets from Smith to reverse the momentum and give Marietta match point at 25-24. On the final rally, Berea's attack sailed wide, sealing the 26-24 set and match victory for Marietta.
Allwood led the Pioneers with 13 kills. Grant and Launder followed with 10 kills apiece. Launder also helped the defensive effort with 16 digs. Heil led the way with four blocks. Austermiller led with 28 assists, but Smith added 22 additional assists.
Kamryn Haynes (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) led the Pioneers defensively with 22 digs.
Marietta continues play at the Ohio Northern Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 12) when they face Manchester University at 2:00 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.
