The Marietta College volleyball team made history Wednesday evening.

Not only did the Pioneers continue the program’s longest unbeaten streak, the Pioneers clinched their first-ever Ohio Athletic Conference regular season Championship as they defeated Mount Union 3-0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-18). With the win the Pioneers remain unbeaten at 20-0 overall and 8-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play and with the loss the Purple Raiders drop to 17-9 overall and 5-3 in the OAC.

“Tonight’s match was amazing to be a part of,” said Marietta Head Volleyball Coach Kristy Newman. “Seeing Pio Nation support us the way they did was incredible! We absolutely fed off their energy!”

Marietta jumped out to a slight 6-2 lead in set one, fueled by some Purple Raider attack errors. Later in the match, the Pioneers kept the advantage at four after a kill from Sophie Evans and an ace from Jillian Fellers, Mount Union was able to fight back into the set, tying it at 11 and then 14. A kill from Alexis Meyer gave the Raiders their first lead since the beginning of the set. After UMU extended the lead to 18-16,

Marietta took the next three possession to jump back into a one-point lead. Both teams traded the next few possessions but Marietta reached set point off of a kill from Ella Boyer. The Purple Raiders took the next three points, two off of kills from Meyer, flipping the lead and putting themselves a point away from taking the set. Marietta rushed forward with a pair of kills from Boyer and claimed the set after a Raider attack error, winning 27-25.

The second set was tight early as it remained deadlocked at 8-8. After an ace from Casey Kildow gave Mount Union the lead, Marietta answered with a five-point rally, capped off by a kill from Mia Silva to lead 13-9. The Pioneers quickly followed that with another four-point run, getting kills from Silva and Jillian Fellers to push the lead to 17-10. The Purple Raiders fought back and chipped away at the lead, eventually scoring a late four-point run to put it at 23-21. Maggie Fellers provided a clutch kill and then assisted Boyer with a block to clinch the long hard fought set, 25-23.

After an early 4-4 tie, the Pioneers went to work on a seven-point rally fueled by a pair of kills from Jillian Fellers to lead 11-4. Kills from Emory Spitler, Evans, and Silva surrounded small chunks of points scored by the Raiders, who eventually got to as close as 16-15. Evans provided a kill and then the Pioneers again benefited from some attack errors by their opposition to push the lead out to six. Mount Union never overcame that advantage and the Pioneer took the decisive set, 25-18.

The Pioneers were led by Jillian Fellers with 13 kills and she also collected a pair of blocks.

Maggie Fellers added eight kills, seven digs, and three blocks. Evans and Silva contributed seven kills apiece, with Evans leading the team with 4 blocks. Emory Spitler distributed 36 assists and Keira Shannon led a stellar defensive effort with 28 digs in the match.

Marietta will return to the court tonight when it travels to battle Wilmington, with the match scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The Pioneers will then return home the following Friday to play in their regular season finale against Ohio Wesleyan.

This win ensures the Pioneers with home court throughout the OAC playoffs and they will await to play their yet to be named opponent in the OAC Semifinals on Thursday, November 14.

“Each of these girls came to Marietta to make history and they did just that tonight,” concluded Coach Newman. “I have said it all year, this team is special. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds!”