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Megan Fisher 2010 action vs Roberts Wesleyan

Volleyball

Pioneers Suffer Three-Set Loss To Undefeated Northwestern In First Pool Play Match At NAIA National Tournament

Right-side hitter Megan Fisher posted five kills in Malone's first-ever NAIA National Tournament contest


Box Score

The Malone University volleyball team began pool play at the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa on Tuesday night with a three-set loss to NAIA No. 4 Northwestern (IA) College. The Red Raiders, who are the top seed in Pool D, kept their unblemished 2010 record intact, improving to 36-0 on the season with the 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 triumph. The Pioneers, now 33-8 overall, will compete in their second of three pool play matches on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. CST (6:45 p.m. EST) against NAIA No. 9 Lewis-Clark State (ID) College. The Warriors, 28-2 overall, fell to NAIA No. 17 Point Loma Nazarene (CA) University earlier on Tuesday in Pool D's first match, a hard-fought contest that lasted five sets.

Malone held a 20-19 edge over Northwestern in Tuesday's opening set before the Red Raiders rattled off six straight points to take the first frame 25-20. The Pioneers kept things close in sets two and three but were unable to get their attack rolling against the stingy Northwestern defense.
 
Malone notched 24 kills and a season-low -.009 attack percentage in the contest as the Red Raiders tallied 12 total blocks with 55 digs. Outside hitter Jennifer Gahagan and middle hitter Hannah Haver each pocketed seven kills. Gahagan also contributed a team-high 12 digs. Right-side hitter Megan Fisher added five kills while setter Jackie Schwamberger dished out 20 assists. The Pioneers posted three total blocks and 44 digs over the course of the evening.

Outside hitter Hillary Hanno paced Northwestern with 15 kills. Setter KaitlinBeaver posted 35 assists and three service aces while outside hitter Rylee Hustein scooped up 19 digs. The Red Raiders racked up 42 kills and .190 attack percentage in the contest.

Prior to the start of the tournament, the 24-team field was divided into pools of four teams. The top two squads from each of the six pools will advance to the single-elimination bracket that begins play on Friday. In order to move on, Malone will need to win its two remaining pool play matches: Wednesday evening against Lewis-Clark State and Thursday evening against Point Loma Nazarene.  Live stats of each match will be available through California Baptist University's website.

NAIA Volleyball National Tournament Website
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