Pioneer volleyball outlasts visiting Cardinals 3-2
Marietta take deciding game 17-15

Oct. 6, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College volleyball team showed its character Saturday (Oct. 6) afternoon as it held off visiting Otterbein College 3-2 (29-31, 30-23, 30-16, 31-33, 17-15) in an Ohio Athletic Conference showdown at Ban Johnson Arena.

The victory improved the Pioneers' record to 12-8 overall and 2-1 in the OAC. The Cardinals fell to 3-20 overall and 0-3 in league play.

Senior libero Casey Davis (Amanda/Amanda Clearcreek) had another busy match covering the back line, finishing with a match-high 39 digs. That total gives her 1,377 career digs, which ranks second all-time at Marietta. She now trails only Julie Goebel, who collected 1,643 digs from 1988-91.

Davis had plenty of help defensively, as junior setter Caity Shirk (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) added 17 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Becca Holzworth (North Olmsted) had 15, senior defensive specialist Jessica Craig (Uniontown/Lake) made 11 and senior defensive specialist Nikki Veigel (Canton/Canton South) finished with 10.

While the back line was picking up the digs, the front line was putting up successful blocks. Senior right side hitter Paige Williams (Richmond, Ind.) and junior middle blocker Sarah Vadaj (Streetsboro/Kent Roosevelt) both had four block assists, while senior middle blocker Marissa Barnhart (Avon) added a solo block and two block assists. Barnhart remains in fifth place on Marietta's all-time block list, increasing her total to 229 career blocks.

Offensively, Shirk dished out 45 assists and Williams paced the hitters with 17 kills, while Barnhart finished off 13 points with a kill. Vadaj also added 10 kills in the win.

Marietta also finished with a season-high 13 service aces on Saturday; Davis, Craig and Veigel each had three.

The Pioneers will look to make it three straight OAC wins when they travel to New Concord, Ohio, on Tuesday (Oct. 9) for a 7 p.m. match with the rival Muskies.