Trending
COLUMBUS -- The Marietta College volleyball team continued its strong run through Ohio Athletic Conference play Wednesday evening, defeating host Capital in straight sets, 3-0. (25-20, 27-25, 25-21). With the victory, the Pioneers improve to 15-7 overall and 4-1 in OAC play, while Capital falls to 3-18 overall and 0-6 in the conference.
The opening set featured 10 ties and six lead changes as neither team could create much separation early. Capital held an 11-9 advantage midway through the frame before Marietta responded behind the play of McKenzie Heil and Emily Piehler. The Pioneers seized control late with a decisive 6-1 run. Piehler recorded three consecutive kills during the stretch and Jayden Austermiller added a service ace to help extend the lead to 22-17. Heil delivered the set-clinching kill as Marietta closed out a 25-20 set one victory.
Marietta jumped out quickly in the second set as Austermiller served back-to-back aces for a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers later built an 8-3 advantage and appeared in control. Capital battled back, eventually tying the score at 14-14. The remainder of the set turned into a back-and-forth battle featuring 12 ties. The Comets reached set point first at 24-23 following a kill by Jasmine Easterday, but Marietta refused to go away. Heil answered with a kill to tie the score, and Capital committed attacking errors on two of the final three points. A block by Karley Allwood sealed the 27-25 set two win and gave the Pioneers a commanding two-set lead.
Capital grabbed the first two points of the third set, but Marietta quickly took control. A 7-0 run highlighted by an Emma Weiseman service ace, a Karly Launder kill, and multiple Capital attack errors turned a 4-4 score into an 11-4 Pioneer advantage. The lead grew to 14-6 after an ace from Elyse Smith. Capital later trimmed the deficit to 23-20, but Piehler delivered a kill for match point and a Capital service error ended the contest at 25-21.
Heil paced the Marietta offense with nine kills on 21 attacks without an error. Piehler added eight kills and contributed a block. Launder also finished with eight kills and seven digs. Allwood dominated defensively with six blocks. Austermiller and Smith each recorded 13 assists. Austermiller also led the serving attack with four aces. Defensively, Sarah Podkul led all Pioneers with 19 digs.
The Pioneers will again hit the road this Saturday as they will take on Muskingum in conference action, scheduled for an 11 a.m. start time.
MEN'S SOCCER
Marietta College scored a pair of second half goals to beat Capital University, 2-1, Wednesday (Oct. 21) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s soccer action. Marietta improves to 4-6-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the OAC. Capital falls to 6-5-3 on the season and 2-2-2 in the OAC.
“In a game where we needed a complete performance we got as close to one as we have this year. Eli (Swirsky) got us on the board and (Zach) Kern took us home with a heckuva strike. The defense did its job and when needed Travis (Lutz) was there for us,” Marietta head coach Joe Bergin said. “Our mentality is that we can celebrate this one tonight but tomorrow we are back to work getting ready for Muskie.”
Scoring opportunities were extremely limited in the first half. Each team took four shots with just one of the eight shots on goal in the first 45 minutes. Marietta’s back line was anchored by Landon Stonestreet, Pat Williamson, Jaren Reed, and Ben Beckman.
It didn’t take long for the Pioneers to grab the lead in the second half. Just over five minutes into the half, Jack Williams sent the ball into the box where Eli Swirsky was waiting to finish it off for a 1-0 Marietta lead.
Pioneer keeper Travis Lutz had a couple of huge saves in the second half to keep Capital off the scoreboard. He finished the match with three saves.
Zach Kern extended the Marietta lead in the 76th minute. Kern tallied his sixth goal of the season for a 2-0 Pioneers advantage.
The Comets finally got one past the Marietta defense in the final minute. With just 26 seconds left on the clock, Harper Gillen sent a corner kick into the box where Colten Musick slipped it into the net for the goal. But the Pioneers had no trouble running out the clock for the win.
Lutz played all 90 minutes in goal for the Pioneers and had three saves. Noah Thomas posted one save in goal for the Comets.
Marietta hosts rival Muskingum this Saturday at 4 p.m.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
COLUMBUS -- The Marietta College women’s soccer team battled one of the Ohio Athletic Conference’s top teams for 90 minutes Wednesday, but the host Capital Comets found the breakthrough late in the second half to claim a 1-0 victory.
The Pioneers fall to 5-8-2 overall and 2-3-0 in OAC play, while Capital improved to 13-2-0 overall and 6-0-0 in the conference.
“That’s the best team in the conference,” said Marietta head coach Zack Votra. “We just gave them a match that they probably haven’t seen all season.”
The Pioneers generated the first quality chances of the contest behind forward Jaylyn Thornton, who tested Capital goalkeeper Lauren Hinshaw with a shot in the eighth minute before forcing another save less than 11 minutes later. Capital controlled many of the possessions throughout the opening half, but Pioneer goalkeeper Francesca Agliolo repeatedly kept the match scoreless. She turned away attempts by Kendra Kovacs in the 21st minute, Payton Childers in the 28th minute, and Mayci Sayre moments later. Marietta’s defense held firm through the remainder of the half, sending the teams to halftime locked in a scoreless draw.
The Pioneers nearly struck first moments of the second when Thornton put a shot on goal just 15 seconds into the second half, but Hinshaw was there for the save. Capital increased its pressure as the half progressed. Agliolo came up with several key stops, including saves on Childers in the 61st and 64th minutes and back-to-back saves against Brooklyn Herbert in the 74th and 75th minutes.
The Comets finally broke through in the 77th minute. Maggie Springer delivered a pass to Brinley Barnett, who finished the opportunity for the match’s lone goal and the eventual game-winner. Marietta pushed forward during the final stages of the match looking for an equalizer, but Capital’s defense held the Pioneers without a shot over the final 20 minutes.
Thornton led the Marietta offense with six shots and four shots on goal, while Katie Heighberger added the Pioneers’ other attempt. Agliolo’s seven-save performance highlighted a defensive effort that kept Marietta within striking distance throughout the evening.
“We came in with a game plan and executed,” concluded Votra. “This match easily could have been flipped in our favor. Really proud of the team.”
Marietta returns to action Saturday when they host Muskingum. The matchup begins at 1 p.m. and they will honor the team’s seniors in a pre-game ceremony.