Pioneer volleyball promotes literacy at Phillips Elementary
Marietta players spend time on Fall Break reading to elementary school classes

Oct. 15, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College senior volleyball standout Marissa Barnhart (Avon) put aside her advertising and design book in order to read Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All to a first grade class at Phillips Elementary on Monday (Oct. 15) morning.

Barnhart and her 15 Pioneer teammates volunteered their time during the College's Fall Break in an effort to encourage literacy at the local elementary school.

"It was really rewarding to see how excited the kids were when we came in to the room and spent some time with them," senior libero Casey Davis said. "It was nice to give back to the community. We had just as much fun as they did."

Team members paired themselves and split up into the kindergarten through second grade classrooms. Each read a book selected by the class. They then answered questions and signed autographs for the kids.

"I think it's great that we were able to go out and do something positive in the community as a team," Head Coach Ray Costa said. "It was obvious that both our student-athletes and the kids they got to meet really enjoyed the experience and were able to take something positive away from it."