Written by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
After Marietta College’s impressive 2024 campaign, they were invited to Huntingdon, Pennsylvania to face the reigning three-time champion Juniata College Eagles. On Friday, Marietta went face-to-face with the Eagles and lost 3-1. However, the Pioneers managed to sweep Muhlenberg College and #18 Ithaca College to end the weekend 5-1.
Marietta College started out 3-0 after the Mount Union Invitational. In Alliance, Marietta only dropped one set as they defeated Clarkson University, 3-1, DePauw University, 3-0, and Alfred University, 3-0.
Marietta kept things close versus Juniata in the first set. The game was tied 15-15 when the Pios scored off of a service error to take the lead 16-15. However, the Eagles got on a kill streak late getting four kills and taking the lead 22-16. The Pios and Eagles went back and forth but the Eagles took the first set 25-21.
In set two, Juniata got off to a quick start taking an early 7-1 lead. The Pioneers weren’t able to catch a stride this set and dropped set two 25-11. Set three started out similarly, with the Eagles coming out to a 5-1 lead. Marietta closed the gap slightly making the game 9-5. Another service error helped the Pioneers momentum and helped them to a 11-10 lead. The game stayed back and forth with each team at 14 when Marietta scored five straight with four kills. This 19-14 lead was enough to hold onto the set as they finished set three 25-19.
Juniata College did not hold back in set four as they scored seven straight to start the set. Marietta got on the board with an attack error, but Juniata came back and extended the lead to 10-1. However, some kills by Maggie Fellers, AnnaBelle Hacker, and Emily Piehler closed Juniata’s lead to just one at 17-18. Back in the game, they went back and forth once more, however, the Eagles kept the lead and ultimately took the final set 25-21.
“Marietta played good, they kept themselves alive throughout the series, ” stated Juniata College student Nicholas Worstell after the game, “Juniata’s program right now is just simply historic.”
While the Pioneers had suffered their first loss of the season, it was versus a team who has an active 100+ game winning streak. Things faired better on Saturday as the Pioneers defeated Muhlenberg 25-15, 25-23, and 25-16. Versus Ithaca, Marietta had little trouble winning 25-18, 25-17, and 25-19.
The Pioneers continue their quest for a NCAA playoff run as next week Marietta attends the Muskingum Invitational. Marietta will be in New Concord, Ohio on Friday September 12th and Saturday September 13th. They’ll face Washington & Jefferson at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday they face Case Western at 12:00 p.m. and Mount St. Joseph at 2:00 p.m.
Marietta will make their home debut vs Denison University on Tuesday September 16th at 7:00 p.m. To keep up with Marietta College Volleyball visit their website at pioneers.marietta.edu/volleyball.
