Marietta Volleyball wins Marymount Invitational
Pioneers (12-1) off to best start in school history

Sept. 16, 2006
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marietta College volleyball team won its third tournament of the 2006 season and improved its record to 12-1 with two victories on the final day of the Marymount Invitational. The Pioneers defeated host Marymount (Va.), 3-0, (30-15, 20-27, 20-16) and the finished the day with a 3-0 win over DeSales (Pa.) (30-13, 30-16, 30-24).

Senior Ellen Doolittle (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player, the second time she has earned that award in the first three weeks of the year.

Doolittle led MC with 12 kills against Marymount, while senior Jaymi Stephens (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) added 10.

Sophomore setter Kaity Shirk (Middleburg Heights/Midpark), who was also named to the All-Tournament Team, had 35 assists in the match.

Senior Paige Burton (Fairlawn/Archbishop Hoban) added six service aces.

Defensively, junior libero Casey Davis (Amanda/Clearcreek) had a team-high 15 digs and Doolittle finished with four block assists.

Against DeSales, Stephens and junior Marissa Barnhart (Avon) led the offense with 10 kills, while Shirk had 23 assists and sophomore Emily Wheatley (Wyoming) added seven.

Stephens had a team-best 10 digs, while Shirk finished with six blocks to lead the defense.

"We had another solid day of volleyball," said coach Tom Symons. We didn't play our best in the first game of the day, but still had enough to put it away. In the final game, the ladies played much better. I am proud of how everyone has handled themselves so far this year, as we prepare for a touch upcoming OAC schedule."

Marietta will have one final League tune-up when it visits Gambier, Ohio, to take on Kenyon Tuesday (Sept. 19) at 7 p.m. The Pioneers then open OAC play on Friday (Sept. 22) at home against national power Ohio Northern at 7 p.m.