MARYVILLE – Two tough teams went at it Saturday in the Maryville Volleyball Invitational before Marietta prevailed 3-2 over the Scots. The scores were 24-26, 25-20, 25-16, 21-25 and 15-9.
The visiting Pioneers won twice Saturday to improve to 9-1, while Maryville dropped its only match of the day and is now 6-4. Marietta defeated Covenant 3-0 in the afternoon's opening match, with Transylvania blanking Covenant 3-0 in the nightcap.
The first three sets were back and forth, with 31 ties and 18 lead changes. There were zero ties and zero lead changes in Sets 4 and 5.
Isabella Samson blasted seven of her career-high 19 kills in Set 1 and then came back with six more in Set 2. She added 10 digs for her second double-double in the last three matches.
Amii Ingalls finished with 10 kills and a season-high 18 digs for her fourth double-double of the fall. And
Meredith Bonee with 43 assists and 11 digs also posted her fourth double-double of the year.
The Scots in Set 4 broke in front 3-0 and 4-1, the latter on a Samson kill. Marietta drew within 7-5 before the Scots went on a 6-1 run to make it 13-6. Maryville looked ready to end it at 23-14 on
Landry Frisch's service ace, but the Pioneers made the home side earn it by scoring seven of the next eight points.
Ingalls finally iced it with a kill from Bonee and the Scots sent the match to a fifth set with a 25-21 win.
In Set 5, Marietta jumped in front 4-0 and then exploded to a 10-3 advantage. Maryville drew as close as 12-8 and 13-9 but could not make a final push and lost the set and the match by a 15-9 count.
After a Sunday noon tilt between Marietta and Transylvania, the Scots wrap up the weekend against Transylvania at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free at Cooper Athletic Center.
