The Malone College volleyball team tallied a 1-1 record over the weekend in Indiana, splitting two tightly-contested, five-set matches.  On Friday in Winona Lake, the Pioneers edged Grace College 19-25, 25-15, 25-15, 20-25, 15-13.  The squad then traveled to Fort Wayne on Saturday where it suffered a narrow 18-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 8-15 loss to the University of Saint Francis.  After splitting these two non-conference contests, Malone’s overall record now stands at 4-6 on the season.

 

Against Grace, sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Gahagan (Ravenna Southeast H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers with 14 kills and 15 digs.  Junior middle hitter Erica Gann (Meadowbrook H.S.) followed with eight kills and three blocks while sophomore outside hitter Lori Ickes (Smithville H.S.) drilled seven kills and scooped-up a match-high 22 digs.  Other important contributors in the thrilling five-set victory included junior middle hitter Kristen Schoolcraft (McKinley H.S.) with six kills and three blocks (two solo), junior defensive specialist Julie Finley (Western Reserve H.S.) with two service aces, junior setter Alyssa Dibell (Fairless H.S.) with 18 assists and 12 digs, and freshman setter Hannah Riley (Minerva H.S.), who notched four kills and 20 assists.

 

In Saturday’s contest at Saint Francis, Gahagan crushed a season-high 18 kills to go with two service aces, 10 digs, and four blocks (three solo).  Gann registered 10 kills while Ickes posted nine kills and 11 digs.  Sophomore right-side hitter Emily Beiting (Fort Thomas, KY) chipped in with five kills, four blocks (one solo) and 11 digs.  Schoolcraft tallied five blocks (one solo) and Dibell added 36 assists, but it was not enough as the Cougars slipped past the Pioneers in five sets.

 

This week, Malone (4-6 overall, 0-0 AMC) will travel across town to face NAIA #17 Walsh University (5-3 overall, 0-0 AMC) on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.  The squad will then open American Mideast Conference play on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio as it takes part in a three-team tri-match hosted by Ohio Dominican University (3-5 overall, 0-0 AMC).  Malone will play the host Panthers at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday before taking on Houghton (NY) College (3-3 overall, 0-0 AMC) in a neutral contest at 1:00 p.m.