By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Joe Meyer '24
BEREA, Ohio - The Baldwin Wallace University women's volleyball team hosted Marietta College to open their Ohio Athletic Conference schedule in Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center. The Yellow Jackets (9-7, 0-1 OAC) fell to the Pioneers (13-4, 1-1 OAC) in four hard-fought sets, by scores of 15-25, 25-23, 13-25, and 19-25.
SUMMARY
The Yellow Jackets found themselves in an early hole to start set one after Marietta raced out to a 12-8 lead. BW responded with a run of its own, culminating in a kill by junior setter Olivia Zawadzki (Hilliard/Darby) to tie the first set at 14 a-piece. From there, the Pioneers outscored BW 11-1 to close out the set (25-15).
After going down early in the second set, BW scored six unanswered points to take a 14-13 lead. BW extended that advantage to 19-16 after a kill by sophomore outside hitter Sam Rueda (Aurora, Ill/Metea Valley) before a 7-1 Marietta run put the Pioneers back up by three (23-20). With their backs up against the wall, the Yellow Jackets stormed back with five straight points to take the second set (25-23), finishing the set with a big block from Zawadzki and senior Academic All-OAC middle hitter Isa Luciano (Willoughby/South).
Marietta grabbed an early 10-3 lead to begin the third set. Freshman outside hitter Gabby Schlecht (Naperville, Il./North) closed the deficit to four (10-6) with an ace, but that would be as close as BW would get, as Marietta used another big run to take the third set (25-13).
After a back-and-forth start to the fourth set, BW took a 16-14 advantage on a kill from Schlecht, before Marietta tallied four straight points to retake the lead (18-16). BW would tie it back up at 18-18 on a block from Luciano, but from there, the Pioneers took control of the fourth set, closing out the fourth set (25-19), and the match (3-1).
KEY STATS
9 - Schlecht recorded a team-high nine kills to lead the BW offense
25 & 13 - Zawadzki notched a double-double with 25 assists and 13 digs, and added three service aces
14 - Sophomore All-OAC libero Lauren Gardner (Avon/Saint Joseph Academy) totaled a match-high 14 digs
UP NEXT
BW returns to play on Wednesday, October 5 as it travels to Alliance for an OAC contest against the University of Mount Union. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. inside the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.