MARIETTA -- John Carroll Volleyball's magical year has come to a close at the hands of the #8 ranked Marietta Pioneers. The Blue Streaks were downed in three closely competitive sets in The Ban Johnson Arena in Marietta, Ohio. 

With the loss, John Carroll concluded the campaign with a 20-10 record. 

The Streaks started out hot, gaining and maintaining a three point advantage throughout the first part of the first set with their biggest lead being a 17-12 advantage. Kills from Abby Bednar and Kendra Dziubinski helped fuel the run. 

The Pioneers then stormed back and cut the lead to two thanks to a kill and two service aces by Marietta junior Jilllian Fellers. The Blue Streaks regained a four point advantage thanks to two clutch kills by sophomore right side Mary Kate Sheehan improving their score 19-15. Marietta then poured in a run of three points due to timely hitting, cutting their deficit to one.

Both squads traded blows in a clutch exchange of points, until the Pioneers pulled ahead by two at 23-21. Sophomore Natalie Glowe then got her chance to put The Streaks back into the game at 23-22 after an attack error by Marietta. Glowe capitalized, and  went on a two point service ace run to pull ahead 24-23. Ultimately, The Pioneers were able to regain momentum and seal the first set with three straight points to close the first set 26-24. 

The second set was started out by multiple point runs by Marietta to gain an early five point advantage 11-6. The Streaks then showed some fire and came back with some consecutive points in a row to make it 12-11 thanks to some impressive swings by senior captain Jessica Liddle. 

Both teams then found trouble establishing a true advantage, as no team was able to gain more than a two point lead the rest of the set. Marietta was ultimately able to veer in front of the Streaks with the score at 22-20 and close the set on a three point run thanks to a kill and some Blue Streak errors. 

Much like the second set, the Pioneers came out on a roll in the third set and claimed a 7-2 lead, putting the Streaks in an early hole to climb out of. But, they were able to do just that with some crisp offensive direction by Junior Setter Haley Nicholson. The score was all of a sudden 7-7. Marietta wouldn't be deterred however, and soon after went on four point run to gain a 13-9 advantage.

Not to be denied, Bednar and the Streaks then roared back with a four point run soon after to pull ahead 18-15. 

The two teams then again traded blows, with neither able to gain a definite advantage. Until Marietta came back with a four point run while down three points to make the score 22-21. The Blue Streaks were able to keep battling and even the score at 23-23. Marietta was then able to seal the set, and match, after some long rallies and two consecutive points to end the set, 25-23. 

Marietta will now host the Cardinals of Otterbein on Saturday after their win against Mount Union tonight. 

The Blue Streaks leave the court this season with a year to remember. They're able to hang their hats on a win against #11 ranked Case Western Reserve, along with their first postseason victory since 2022 and Michelle Benoit's second as head coach of the Streaks.