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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Benoit coaching
3
Winner John Carroll JCU 7-9,6-7 OAC
2
Marietta MAR 5-6,4-6 OAC
Winner
John Carroll JCU
7-9,6-7 OAC
3
Final
2
Marietta MAR
5-6,4-6 OAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
John Carroll JCU 25 12 15 26 15 (3)
Marietta MAR 22 25 25 24 6 (2)
0
John Carroll JCU 7-10,6-8 OAC
3
Winner Marietta MAR 6-6,5-6 OAC
John Carroll JCU
7-10,6-8 OAC
0
Final
3
Marietta MAR
6-6,5-6 OAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
John Carroll JCU 19 13 20 (0)
Marietta MAR 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Ashley McCall, Staff Writer

Benoit Notches Win #600 as Volleyball Splits with Marietta on the Road

MARIETTA, Ohio -- In a road doubleheader on Friday, John Carroll University Volleyball split with the Marietta College Pioneers after a full evening in Marietta on April 2. 

The Blue Streaks enjoyed a thrilling 5-set victory in the first match, 25-22, 12-25, 15-25, 26-24, 15-6. In the second match, the Pioneers swept JCU, 25-19, 25-13, 25-20.

With the win in the opening match, the Blue Streaks delivered a historic triumph for Michele Benoit: Her 600th career collegiate coaching victory. 

Benoit is one of 116 NCAA coaches all-time to achieve the feat. Benoit is now in an elite group of 48 active coaches from across the country to possess 600 career women's volleyball victories. The feat demonstrates Benoit's impressive staying power within the game and special coaching abilities. John Carroll is lucky to have her. 

"I appreciate the recognition from friends and colleagues. I feel extraordinarily blessed to be able to do something that I love and to be successful doing it," said Benoit. "These wins represent all of the players I have fortunate enough to coach and give so much of themselves to the game we all love. This is also a tribute to the coworkers, support staff, assistant coaches and families of athletes that make my job easier so I can focus on what I call the good stuff.

"I feel especially blessed that this milestone happened with this team. It's been a strange journey but it been a good one. We have a great and talented group of young women and I love walking into the gym every day because of them."

Match 1

The Blue Streaks narrowly won the first set of the first match as the Pioneers had quick scoring sprees throughout the game to keep them close to the Blue and Gold on the scoreboard. JCU junior Carleen Ellerbruch was able to hit the 25-point mark for John Carroll as she had the final kill of the first set. 

The score of the second set of the first match favored Marietta 25-12, as the Blue and Gold's offense stalled after the first game. 

Marietta won the third set, furthering the match score to 2-1 over John Carroll. 

The fourth set started in a similar way to the previous two with Marietta in command. But halfway through the set, the Blue Streaks took control of the game. Freshman Madison Heininger scored two consecutive service aces to cap off a five score run by the Blue and Gold, giving the visitors momentum as they took the lead. 

The Pioneers were able to tie it up at 21, but John Carroll finished as the winners of the fourth set by a score of 26-24, sending the first match into the tiebreaker set. 

The Blue Streaks found victory in the final set of the first match, ending the game with a four point run. Junior Ally Bartolone had the final point through a service ace, making the score 15-6 favoring John Carroll. 

The Blue and Gold were the victors of the first match after an amazing comeback in the final two sets, marking the 600th career win for Head Coach Michele Benoit. 

Kailee Herbst led the team with 12 kills, with Cassi Calamunci tabbing 11, and Abigail Kirk notching 10. Ally Bartolone topped the team with 25 assists, while Maddie Maziarz followed with 18. Lexi MacDonald (19), Bartolone (11), and Heininger (11) all hit double digits in digs. JCU tallied 7 service aces.

Match 2

Unfortunately, John Carroll lost its momentum going into the second match.

The Blue and Gold started to find rhythm at the end of the first set but by then, it was too late, and Marietta was crowned the victors of the set by a score of 25-19. 

The second set of the second match was close until Marietta went on a 8-point run, crushing John Carroll's momentum from the end of the first set. The Pioneers added another win to the overall match score, leading 2-0 over the Blue Streaks.

In a more back and forth fashion, the third set was a toss up between the two squads. John Carroll took the forefront after a 6-point run with Bartolone as the server before Marietta was able to regain control of the lead. 

As the Pioneers won the third set, that gave them the three wins needed to close out the second match. 

With the win and loss against Marietta, the Blue and Gold's record becomes 6-8 for the season. 

Calamunci guided the way with 8 kills, Bartolone led the team with 14 assists, while MacDonald (11) and Calamunci (10) each reached double digits in digs.   

The Blue Streaks are back in action against Heidelberg University on April 6 in the doubleheader format at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m in Tiffin, Ohio.  
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