Women's Volleyball 9/27/2011 12:00:00 AM

Purple Raiders Defeat Marietta to Improve to 15-4

Box Score

ALLIANCE, Ohio—The Mount Union volleyball team posted its second straight win to open Ohio Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 victory over Marietta Tuesday night at The McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in Alliance. Winners of seven consecutive matches, the Purple Raiders head into October with a record of 15-4 overall and 2-0 in the OAC.

The 25-12, 25-15, 26-28, 27-25 decision did not come easily for the Purple Raiders. After winning the first two sets in convincing fashion, Marietta seemed ready to become their second OAC sweep victim in as many matches. The Pioneers faced match point on two occasions, but battled to back to take the set.

Trailing 21-19 in the fourth set, Mount Union called a timeout to regroup. Two points later, the set was tied and Marietta was calling the timeout to regroup. After falling behind, 25-24, Marietta was forced to use yet another timeout. A kill by Natalie Lanham tied the set, but that would be Marietta's final point of the match. A thunderous kill by Maya Brown (Tiffin/Tiffin Columbian) and an attack error by Lanham sealed the victory for the Purple Raiders.

Taylor Webb (Geneva/Geneva) led the Purple Raiders with 17 kills, followed by Melanie Patterson (Mentor/Lake Catholic) with 12 kills. Julie Radigan (Olmsted Falls/Olmsted Falls) had 43 assists and eight kills. Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) led the Mount Union defense with 24 digs. Deanna Glass (Medina/Medina), who ranks 17th in the nation in blocks, had nine blocks.

Mount Union travels to Ada to take on Ohio Northern Saturday afternoon.

Mount Union def. Marietta 25-12,25-15,26-28,27-25

Marietta (8-10, 1-1 OAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kathryn Hanssen 11-1-1;
Alex VanGundy 9-0-1; Natalie Lanham 8-0-1; Alex Weissling 7-0-1;
Meredith Storey 7-0-0; Laura Mauer 2-1-0; Jen Braun 1-3-0; Brittney
Merritt 1-0-0; Totals 46-5-3.0. (Assists) - Laura Mauer 37. (Dig
leaders) - Jen Braun 14; Laura Mauer 9; Brittney Merritt 9

Mount Union (15-4, 2-0 OAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Taylor Webb 17-0-4;
Melanie Patterson 12-0-4; Julie Radigan 8-0-1; Maya Brown 6-0-2;
Deanna Glass 5-1-9; Nicole Snyder 4-0-5; Allison Insana 0-2-0;
Christine Frazier 0-1-0; Totals 52-4-14.0. (Assists) - Julie Radigan
43. (Dig leaders) - Kristen Gromes 24; Lauren Mastroine 8; Julie
Radigan 8