MC volleyball to host River City Tournament this weekend

Sept. 2, 2004
MARIETTA, Ohio - Marietta College hosts the 14th Annual River City Volleyball Tournament this weekend on Fenton Court in Ban Johnson Arena. The eight-team field, including NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III schools, will begin play today (Sept. 3) at 4:00 p.m. The championship game is set for Saturday (Sept. 4) at 3:00 p.m.

The weekend promises to be exciting with seven teams returning from 2003’s pool. Returning from the last year’s championship bracket are Carnegie Mellon (PA), Marietta and Washington & Jefferson (PA). Marietta and Carnegie Mellon met in a semifinal, with the Tartans winning in five sets, before falling in straight sets to Waynesburg (PA) in the finals.

Marietta returns three seniors and three starters from the 2003 team that went 18-13 overall and 4-5 in the OAC, and advanced to the semifinal of the OAC Tournament.

“Last season marked a great step for the program in winning its first OAC Tournament match in 17 years,” said head coach Tom Symons, who begins his first year with the Pioneers. “We are looking forward to this weekend and the competition should give us a good chance to evaluate where we are as a team.”

Leading the way for the Pioneers will be senior tri-captains Ashley Webster, Julie Moses and Jennie Hayden. Carnegie Mellon (26-11), under ninth year coach Julie Bigger, returns 11 veterans but only one senior, Laura Graf, to its 2004 roster. Fred Wallace, in his second season with Washington & Jefferson (15-14), has two seniors, Jerica Lamens and Mari Lynne Starr, on his squad.

Carlow (PA), Denison, Ohio Valley (WV) and Wooster all return hoping for better luck in this season’s tournament, while Urbana is a fresh face to the tournament.

The teams are broken down into two pools of four teams. The two top teams from each pool will advance to play for the championship, while the third and fourth place teams from each pool will battle it out in the consolation bracket.

“The ladies have worked extremely hard in practice and are improving every day,” said Symons. “The team looks to continue that push toward the top of the OAC in 2004, and it all begins here with the first match of the year.”