ALLIANCE, Ohio—The Mount Union women's volleyball team fell in an OAC matchup to Marietta in four sets (20-25, 25-21, 13-25, 22-25) Tuesday evening at the Timken Gymnasium.
The Purple Raiders (14-5, 2-2 OAC) were led by junior outside hitter
Heaven Bartell (Cleveland / St. Joseph Academy) with 15 kills and freshman right side hitter
Riley Meister (Madison) with 10 kills.
Freshman setter
Melissa Hansen (Hudson) and junior setter
Casey Kildow (Bethesda / Union Local) led the team in assists with 20 and 18 individually.
Bartell and freshman libero
Averi Haley (Orrville) led the Purple Raiders in digs with 18 digs each and senior defensive specialist
Adrian Petrisko (Elyria) had 10 digs.
Marietta (8-8, 3-1 OAC) was led by Jillian Fellers with 16 kills, Emory Spitler with 46 assists, and Keira Shannon with 22 digs.
In the first set, Marietta came out strong against the Purple Raiders with a 5-1 scoring lead to make the score 6-1 early on. Marietta went on another 5-point scoring run after a point from the Raiders making the score 11-2. The Purple Raiders were able to make a comeback with a 9-2 scoring run, led by Bartell, to take the lead 17-16. Marietta was quick to bounce back with a 6-2 run to take the first set 25-20.
In the second set, Marietta came out hot with a 3-point run. The Raiders came back with a 7-3 scoring run, led by Meister, to take a 7-6 lead. The Raiders and the Pioneers battled it out, until Marietta was able to break constant tied score with a 3-0 run to take the lead 16-13. The Raiders were quick to fight back going on an 8-3 scoring run, with Bartell leading the run, to regain their lead 21-18. The Raiders were able to keep their lead taking the second set 25-21.
The third set was no different for Marietta, they came out with a 5-point run to take the lead 5-1. Mount Union was quick to bounce back on a 6-2 scoring run, led by Meister once again, but Marietta kept the lead with the score 11-9. Marietta kept their lead on a 7-1 scoring run which helped secure set three for Marietta beating out Mount Union 25-13.
The fourth set was a quick start for Marietta getting a 3-point run again. Both teams put up a fight in this set, but Mount Union was able to go on an 8-5 scoring run, led by Meister and Bartell, to make the score 19-18 with Marietta still leading. Marietta would not let up taking the fourth set 25-22.
Mount Union will stay home to take on the No. 1 nationally ranked and defending National Champions in Juniata College on Friday October 13th with a 6 p.m. start time.
