Trending
The Marietta College volleyball team pushed Ohio Athletic Conference leader Otterbein in stretches Wednesday, including a tightly contested second set that came down to the final points, but the visiting Cardinals claimed a 3-0 victory (25-13, 26-24, 25-19) inside Ban Johnson Arena.
The Pioneers moved to 15-9 overall and 4-3 in the OAC, while 15th-ranked Otterbein improved to 22-3 overall and 7-0 in league play.
The Cardinals came out quickly, building a 4-0 advantage before Marietta answered with kills from Emily Piehler and Karley Allwood. Otterbein maintained control throughout the opening frame, using a balanced attack led by Courtney Post, Chandler Crowell and Emerson Baum. Trailing 8-3, the Pioneers received a kill from Piehler to stop the run and later got points from Mackenzie Heil and a block from Elyse Smith and AnnaBelle Hacker to trim the deficit. A late rally saw Marietta score four of five points, highlighted by a Piehler solo block, an Otterbein attack error, and a service ace from Jayden Austermiller that cut the margin to 20-11. The Cardinals quickly regained momentum, however, finishing the set with five of the final seven points. Heil delivered Marietta’s last kill of the set before Otterbein closed out a 25-13 set one victory.
After the teams traded points early in the second set, the Pioneers used a three-point run behind Smith’s serving. An Otterbein attack error followed by a Smith ace gave Marietta a 5-3 advantage. Kills from Piehler, Karly Launder, Hacker and Heil helped the Pioneers stay in front through the middle stages. The set featured 12 ties and several lead changes as neither team could pull away. Back-to-back kills from Allwood and Launder pushed Marietta ahead 16-14, and another Heil kill later made it 17-15. Otterbein responded behind Post and Baum to knot the score at 19-19 and then moved in front 20-19. The Pioneers answered immediately. A Cardinal service error tied the set before Smith’s serve sparked the biggest Marietta run of the night. Otterbein committed an attack error and then ran into a block from Allwood and Heil. Smith followed with another service ace, giving Marietta a 23-20 lead and bringing the home crowd to life. The Cardinals would not go away. Crowell recorded a pair of late kills, and after Marietta reached set point at 24-23 following another Otterbein attack error, the visitors rallied with the final three points. A Crowell kill tied the score, a block handed Otterbein the lead, and a final Marietta attack error ended the dramatic second set, 26-24.
After falling behind in set three 7-3, the Pioneers steadily chipped away. Kills by Hacker and Launder helped trim the deficit to 13-10, and Austermiller delivered a service ace during a three-point run that cut the margin to 13-11. Otterbein answered with consecutive points from Post and stretched the lead to 16-11 before Marietta mounted another charge. Piehler and Allwood recorded key kills, and a block by Heil and Allwood followed by a Keatyn Haynes ace brought the Pioneers within 19-16. The Cardinals once again had an answer. Baum recorded several late kills as Otterbein pushed the lead back to five points. Marietta received late kills from Hacker and Launder to stay alive, but Post delivered the Cardinals’ match-point kill before a final ace sealed the 25-19 set and the match.
Marietta was paced offensively by Launder and Piehler, who each recorded six kills. Allwood added five kills. Smith directed the offense with 20 assists and also collected two service aces. Defensively, Launder turned in a team-high 13 digs, while Sarah Podkul and Emma Weiseman added seven digs apiece.
Marietta closes out the Ohio Athletic Conference regular-season schedule on Saturday afternoon when they host Baldwin Wallace at Ban Johnson Arena. The matchup is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time. Prior to the match, Marietta will recognize its senior class for its contributions to the program.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
The Marietta College women’s soccer team took another significant step in its historic season Wednesday, playing visiting Otterbein University to a 0-0 draw at Marietta Field.
With the result, Marietta moved to 6-8-3 overall and 3-3-1 in the OAC. Otterbein moved to 8-6-1 overall and 6-0-1 in the conference.
The Pioneers also officially clinched their first Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament berth since 2003 and remain in contention to host a first-round playoff match depending on the outcome of Saturday’s regular-season finale at Baldwin Wallace.
“We kept ourselves in a great position to host a playoff game,” said Marietta head coach Zack Votra. “That team is now at the top of the conference. We now firmly believe that we can compete with anyone!”
The biggest moment of the opening half came in the 36th minute when Otterbein was awarded a penalty kick. Marietta goalkeeper Francesca Agliolo came up with the save on Keaton Aspacher’s attempt, preserving the scoreless deadlock and energizing the Pioneer defense.
Offensively, the Pioneers created several quality chances of their own. Jaylyn Thornton led Marietta with four shots, putting three efforts on target. Thornton tested Otterbein goalkeeper Isabella Neal in the 12th minute, again late in the first half, but the half eventually ended in a 0-0 tie.
Marietta’s defense continued to stand tall throughout the second half despite sustained pressure from the Cardinals. The Pioneers survived seven Otterbein corner kicks after intermission and limited the visitors to just four shots on goal for the match.
The Pioneers nearly found a late winner in the closing minutes as Claire Warren and Madelyn Call each fired shots during a final offensive push, but the match ended in a scoreless stalemate.
Agliolo finished the night with four saves, recording her seventh shutout of the season as Marietta held one of the conference’s top attacking teams off the scoreboard. She made two saves in each half, including stops on Aspacher and Cat Szasz in the final 12 minutes.
The Pioneers will close the regular season Saturday when they travel to Baldwin Wallace, scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time. A favorable result, combined with outcomes elsewhere in the conference, could allow Marietta to earn a home postseason match for the first time in more than two decades.
MEN'S SOCCER
WESTERVILLE -- Otterbein scored one goal in each half as the Cardinals defeated Marietta College by the score of 2-0 Wednesday in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s soccer.
The loss drops Marietta to 4-8-3 overall and 2-4-1 in the OAC. Otterbein improves to 9-3-2 on the season and 4-2-1 in the OAC.
Scoring opportunities were hard to come by for both teams. Of the 20 shots taken in the match, only five were on goal. The Cardinals held a 14-6 advantage in shots including a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. Otterbein also took nine corners to Marietta’s four.
Nate Werthmuller scored the game winner in the 28th minute. The unassisted goal was his fourth goal of the season. Alex Greene scored an insurance goal for the Cardinals with an assist from Rome Jacob in the 75th minute.
Travis Lutz went the distance in goal for the Pioneers and recorded two saves. Jayden Burdine played all 90 minutes for Otterbein and had one save in the shutout.
Marietta closes out the regular season at home on Saturday against Baldwin Wallace. The match is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Pioneers will honor their seven seniors before the match.