COLUMBUS, Ohio - Capital University's volleyball team won its fifth consecutive match as the Crusaders held off a late Marietta College rally, defeating the Pioneers 3-1 (25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21) Tuesday at The Capital Center.
The victory, which was also the ninth in the past 10 matches for Capital, moves the Crusaders to 23-5 overall and 5-2 in Ohio Athletic Conference play. Marietta dropped to 13-14 (1-6 OAC).
Capital started the first set on a 6-0 run and didn't look back from there, as the Crusaders outhit Marietta .333 to .059. Capital's defense also tallied six blocks.
Junior Jenifer Fekpe (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson HS) tallied five kills in the second set as the Crusaders used a 13-2 surge to take control, then withheld a late Marietta comeback. Capital's defense was solid again, limiting the Pioneers to an .035 hitting percentage while recording four more blocks and 32 digs.
Marietta rallied for a victory in the third set, as the Pioneers charged back from a seven-point deficit at 13-6. Marietta hit .146, while the Crusaders had seven attack errors and hit just .073 as a team.
The Crusaders recovered in the fourth set and led throughout, posting a .235 hitting percentage. Senior Jackie Helm (Lancaster, Ohio/Fisher Catholic HS) had six of her team-high 13 kills in the fourth set.
Fekpe finished with 12 kills and a .400 hitting percentage, junior Jenna Zumberger (DeGraff, Ohio/Fairlawn HS) had 24 assists and 16 digs, and Helm had a team-high 18 digs to go along with her 13 kills.
Capital plays a tri-match with Wittenberg College and Hiram College Saturday starting at 1 p.m. in Springfield, Ohio. The Crusaders return home and continue OAC play at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 against Muskingum College.