Pioneer volleyball closes out regular season with a 3-1 road victory over John Carroll
Marietta earns sixth seed in upcoming OAC Tournament

Oct. 27, 2006
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Marietta College volleyball team picked up a key Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory Friday (Oct. 27) night, defeating John Carrol1 3-1 (31-29, 30-23, 29-31, 30-25). With the win, the Pioneers improved to 20-7 on the year and more importantly 4-5 in the OAC.

Depending on the outcome of the Saturday's match between Capital and Otterbein, Marietta could finish as high as a tied for fifth with four other teams in the standings. No matter the outcome, the Pioneers have locked up the No. 6 seed in next week's OAC Tournament. It is the first time the school has made the Conference Tournament since 2003 when it made it to the semi finals of the eight-team tournament. Marietta will open OAC Tournament play at No. 3 Capital Tuesday (Oct. 31) at 7 p.m.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead in the first game with the Blue Streaks. John Carroll, however battled back before Marietta took the first game 31-29. The Pioneers used the momentum to take a 2-0 lead with a 30-23 win in the second game, only for JCU to send the match to four games with a 31-29 victory in game three. In game four, Marietta secured the match with a 30-25 win.

The win moved the Pioneers to 20 wins, something a Marietta team has done only nine other times in its 31-year history. The last Pioneer team to win 20 matches was the 1996 squad, which finished 21-13.

Marietta now shifts its focus to Capital in preparation of Tuesday's opening round match. The Crusaders won the regular season meeting on 3-0 Oct. 24.