Pioneers win River City Volleyball Tournament championship
Doolittle tabbed MVP; Davis sets school record for digs in a four-game match

Sept. 2, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College volleyball team capped off a successful opening weekend by claiming the title of the 16th annual River City Tournament. The Pioneers bounced back from a 3-2 loss to Rio Grande earlier in the day to defeat Ohio Dominican, 3-1, and claim the title.

Senior middle blocker Ellen Doolittle (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, while junior teammate Casey Davis (Amanda/Clearcreek) joined her on the All-Tournament Team.

Marietta (3-1) took the first two games of the final, winning 30-19 and 33-13. Ohio Dominican (3-4) took won the third game, 30-23, before Marietta wrapped up the match with a 31-29 victory in game four.

Davis, the team’s libero, and Doolittle shined in the championship game. Davis led a defense that totaled 112 digs and eight total blocks. Davis collected 42 digs, which broke the school record for digs in a four-game match. The previous record was 31, set by Erin Perry in 2002. Three others „Ÿ senior Paige Burton (Fairlawn/Archbishop Hoban) (23), freshman Becca Holzworth (North Olmsted) (15) and senior Jaymi Stephens (Hilliard/ Hilliard Davidson) (14) „Ÿ finished with double-digit digs in the win.

Marietta’s offense finished with 51 assists „Ÿ all by sophomore setter Caity Shirk (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) „Ÿ 56 kills and nine service aces. Doolittle paced the offense with 21 kills, while junior Marissa Barnhart (Avon) and Stephens added 12 and 11 kills, respectively.

Marietta opened the day with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss (30-27, 23-30, 16-30, 30-25, 15-11) to Rio Grande. The Pioneers had plenty opportunities to put the Redwomen away, even leading 11-6 in the fifth game. Rio Grande, however, battled back to take the fifth game, 15-11, and thus the match.

As a team, the Pioneers’ offense collected 59 kills and added 15 service aces in match. Doolittle finished with eight services aces, one shy of the school’s five-game match record of nine. The middle blocker also added a team-high 19 kills. Stephens (16) and Barnhart (11) also had double-digit kills. Shirk had 53 assists in the match.

Marietta’s defense finished with 83 digs and 14 total blocks. Davis collected 36 of the team’s 83 digs, which was four shy of the team’s five-game match record. Stephens, Barnhart and Doolittle all added four block assists in the loss.

The Pioneers return to action Tuesday (Sept. 5) when they welcome Waynesburg (Pa.) to Fenton Court for a non conference match at 7 p.m. A junior varsity match is also slated for Tuesday at 5 p.m.

All-Tournament Team:

Ellen Doolitte, Marietta (MVP)

Casey Davis, Marietta College

Davita Tucker (Ohio Dominican)

Megan Cherry (Ohio Dominican)

Mandy Strom (Ohio Valley)

Summer Rinehart (Rio Grande)

Saturday’s Results

Championship: Marietta def. Ohio Dominican, 3-1 (30-19, 33-31, 23-30, 31-29)

Rio Grande def. Ohio Valley, 3-1 (30-26, 30-26, 26-30, 30-21)

Rio Grande def. Marietta, 3-2 (30-27, 23-30, 16-30, 30-25, 15-11)

Ohio Dominican def. Ohio Valley, 3-1 (30-23. 30-27, 27-30, 30-27)

Friday’s Results

Marietta (1-0) def. Ohio Valley (1-4), 3-0 (32-30, 30-25, 30-21)

Ohio Dominican (2-2) def. Rio Grande (1-4), 3-1 (28-30, 30-22, 30-17, 37-35)

Marietta (2-0) def. Ohio Dominican (2-3), 3-1 (30-21,30-27, 28-30, 30-14)

Rio Grande (2-4) def. Ohio Valley (1-5), 3-2 (23-30, 30-20, 30-27, 26-30, 15-8)