The Malone College volleyball team posted a 3-1 record over the weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Cornerstone Classic Volleyball Tournament hosted by Cornerstone University.  The Pioneers opened play at the event with a pair of victories on Friday evening, topping Davenport (MI) University 25-22, 25-6, 25-22 and host Cornerstone 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11.  On Saturday, the squad fell to Indiana Tech 15-25, 19-25, 23-25 before bouncing back to defeat Aquinas (MI) College later in day by a final score of 19-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18.  Following the four non-conference matches over the weekend, Malone’s overall record now stands at 3-5 on the young season (0-0 American Mideast Conference).

 

In Friday’s opener with Davenport, sophomore outside hitters Jennifer Gahagan (Ravenna Southeast H.S.) and Lori Ickes (Smithville H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers as Gahagan posted eight kills and a team-high 10 digs while Ickes notched eight kills to go with nine digs.  Freshman right-side hitter Megan Fisher (Perry H.S.) followed with six kills and two blocks, junior middle hitter Kristen Schoolcraft (McKinley H.S.) tallied four blocks (three solo), and freshman setter Hannah Riley (Minerva H.S.) chipped in with 12 assists and nine digs.

 

In the thrilling five-set win over Cornerstone, Gahagan again paced the Malone attack, ripping a season-high 17 kills.  Junior middle hitter Erica Gann (Meadowbrook H.S.) followed closely behind with 16 kills.   Schoolcraft contributed nine kills with Ickes and sophomore right-side hitter Emily Beiting (Ft. Thomas, KY) each adding eight kills apiece.  In addition to her impressive kill total, Ickes also registered a team-best 18 digs and two solo blocks.  Other important contributors in the victory included Riley with 25 assists and 15 digs, senior defensive specialist Julie Finley (Western Reserve H.S.) with three service aces, and junior setter Alyssa Dibell (Fairless H.S.) with 26 assists and 11 digs.

 

Against Indiana Tech on Saturday morning, Gahagan tallied 11 kills and eight digs while Ickes registered six kills and 13 digs.  Dibell dished out 13 assists, Beiting drilled six kills, and Gann notched four solo blocks, but it was not enough as Malone fell to the Warriors in straight sets.

 

In the weekend’s finale against Aquinas, Gahagan posted a team-high 11 kills, marking the sixth time in eight matches so far this season that the 5’10” sophomore has reached double-digits in the kill column.  Schoolcraft also posted impressive numbers in the four-set win with eight kills and seven blocks (two solo).  Beiting added eight kills and four blocks, Dibell tallied four service aces and 18 assists, while Riley dished out 16 assists and scooped up 12 digs.

 

This week, Malone (3-5 overall, 0-0 AMC) will travel to Indiana on Friday and Saturday for a pair of non-conference matches.  The Pioneers will face off with Grace (IN) College (2-1 overall, 0-0 MCC) on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. before taking on the University of Saint Francis (4-1 overall, 0-0 MCC) on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.

 

Malone Notes:  Through the first two weeks of the season, Jennifer Gahagan leads the Pioneers in multiple statistical categories including kills (3.1 per set), attack percentage (.300), and digs (2.76 per contest)…Alyssa Dibell is pacing the squad with nine service aces and 5.07 assists per set…Kristen Schoolcraft is averaging a team-high 1.31 blocks per set.