WOOSTER, Ohio - Oberlin College volleyball quickly dismissed the Marietta College Pioneers in straight sets before closing their Saturday at the College of Wooster's Ginny Hunt Classic with a loss to Pitt-Bradford.

The Yeowomen got Saturday going in the right direction with a swift 3-0 win over the Pioneers of Marietta College, 25-22, 25-21, 25-19.

The opening set was a back and forth affair, but an Oberlin scoring run early gave the Crimson and Gold just enough of an advantage to help fend off a late Marietta comeback.

The Pioneers took a five-point lead midway through the second frame, 11-6, but the Yeowomen remained resilient and fought back to claim the set. After first-year Lexi Mitchell scored the kill with an assist from senior Meredith Leung to knot the set at 15-15, the Yeowomen outscored Marietta 10-6 to take the decisive two-set lead.

Leading 12-9 in the third, the Yeowomen surrendered three straight points to lock the frame at 12 a piece. Following a kill by Dana Thomas to earn the Yeowomen a 13-12 lead, Thomas proceeded to serve up five consecutive points, including two service aces.

The 17-12 deficit proved too much for Marietta to overcome as they handed head coach Erica Rau's crew the third set and a victory in the opening matchup.

In the leg-stretcher, Mitchell was the offensive leader with a game-high 15 kills, which she coupled with one ace and seven digs in the victory. Senior Jillian Hostetler finished as the only other Yeowoman in double-figures offensively with 10 kills.

Setting up the Oberlin offense was Leung and second-year Sara Chang, who each finished with 21 assists each.

Defensively, second-year libero Emily Kelkar led the Yeowomen's effort with a game-high 14 digs, followed by Mitchell's seven and Krista Langhans who also notched seven in the win. The Yeowomen were also active at the net combining for eight block assists as a unit, while Ave Spencer was the lone Yeowomen to collect a solo block. Spencer led the team in block assists with three.

After their triumph over the Pioneers, the Crimson and Gold had a date with the Pitt-Bradford Panthers, who also offed the Pioneers in three sets on Friday night.

The Yeowomen dropped first set to the Panthers but quickly rallied to take the second set. The second-set rally would be the last set victory for Oberlin as the Panthers stormed back to take the third and forth, ending the Yeowomen's Saturday with a 3-1 (17-25, 25-14, 18-25, 11-25) loss.

Again it was Mitchell leading the offensive charge with 10 kills; the only Yeowomen to finish in double figures against the Panthers. Hostetler trailed close behind with eight.

Setting up the offense, Leung finished with 13 assists on her way to all-tournament team laurels, while Chang finished with a team-high 17 against Pitt-Bradford. Leung also tied a team-high 10 digs in the loss. Kelkar notched10 digs against the Panthers, taking her Saturday total to 24 and elevate her season total over the century mark (102).

The Yeowomen upped their effort at the net against the Panther, finishing with 12 block assists and two solo blocks from Mitchell and Chang.

The split drops Oberlin one game below .500 at 4-5 as they begin North Coast Athletic Conference play next week.

The Yeowomen will take nearly a week off to prepare for an NCAC showdown with Kenyon College as they return to the friendly confines of Philips Gymnasium on Friday, September 23. The matchupagainst the Ladies is set for 7 p.m. to kick off Homecoming Weekend festivities.