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Marietta volleyball improves to 8-1 after sweeping Morgan

RON JOHNSTON The Marietta Times Marietta’s Hannah Kroft (33) and Sydney Wright (21) go up for a block as Morgan’s Kenzie Zumbro (2) looks on during a high school volleyball match Wednesday at Sutton Gym.

Marietta High and Morgan High have been going in opposite directions on the volleyball court.

The Tigers (8-1) won their eighth straight match with a 3-0 sweep of the Raiders, 25-18, 25-9, and 25-20, in prep VB action Wednesday night at Sutton Gymnasium.

Winless Morgan fell to 0-8 on the season.

“I think being able to step up and play in different positions is really fun,” said Marietta junior Betsy Wriston, who finished with a match-high 10 kills, two blocks and four digs. “I’m normally a middle hitter and I got to play outside tonight.”

Added Tiger head coach Ron Kidder, “That’s where (outside) she may be next year. Who knows?

“We had a lot of girls play different positions, and that’s good for our team.”

Marietta junior Hannah Kroft and sophomore Sydney Wright each added nine kills, while senior captain/setter Morgan Connolly and junior Kaitlyn McClead had 16 and 12 assists, respectively. Freshman Maddy Muntz, who started as a defensive specialist and finished as a libero, had a team-high eight digs.

“Maddy did a nice job,” Kidder said. “She can move and she doesn’t get rattled.”

Starting libero Carlie Hamilton and Natalie Brooks each chipped in with seven digs.

“It just proves how much talent we have,” Wriston said. “It’s going to be a good season.”

The Traci Baker-coached Raiders were led by senior libero Avery Dillaha, who had a match-high 16 digs. Senior defensive specialist Jalynn Vincent added 13 digs. Senior outside hitter Tessa Carnahan led the Raiders in hitting with nine, while senior Tori Miller and sophomore Ella Morrow had three blocks apiece.

Setters’ Makenna Welch and Kenzie Zumbro each had two assists.

Marietta was in control from the outset. With Connolly serving, the Tigers had a 7-0 run and never looked back.

The orange and black’s biggest lead in the opening set was 18-10. Kroft closed it out with a huge kill.

In the second game, Marietta never trailed, dominated the play, and won by 16 points.

Kidder rested some of his starters in the final set, and the Tigers still maintained the upper hand.

“We played everybody,” Kidder said. “We got everybody in tonight, including a couple of JV kids. We had three freshmen on the court at one time, so that was nice.”

Kidder paused.

“This is our second match this week,” the coach continued. “And, tomorrow (Thursday) is out third. We’ve had a lot of games in the last couple of weeks.

“The girls stayed focused tonight, and did what they needed to do to win it.”

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