Trinity Christian Box Score |
Shawnee State Box Score
The Malone University volleyball team, ranked 24th in the most recent NAIA National Poll, opened the Canton Comfort Inn Invitational at Osborne Hall on Friday night with victories over Trinity Christian (IL) College and NAIA #23 Shawnee State University. With the 12-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-22 triumph over the Trolls and the closely-contested 29-27, 22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-10 victory over the Bears, the Pioneers stretched their season-opening unbeaten streak to 11 matches, marking the longest winning streak for Malone since the squad won 15 straight midway through the 2001 season.
Against Trinity Christian in the opener, outside hitter
Jennifer Gahagan pounded 15 kills to go with 13 digs and two aces. Middle hitter
Hannah Haver followed with 12 kills, 10 digs and three blocks, while outside hitter
Lori Gale added 10 kills, 15 digs and two blocks (one solo). Other contributors included right-side hitter
Megan Fisher with seven kills, setter
Jackie Schwamberger with 38 assists, right-side hitter
Emily Beiting with three aces and eight digs and libero
Allison Kirby with 11 digs.
In Friday's final with Shawnee State, Gahagan again led the way with 19 kills, three aces, 14 digs and four blocks. Haver notched 15 kills with 11 digs and five blocks (one solo). Middle hitter
Lauren Townley posted 12 kills and three blocks while Gale tallied 10 kills and 13 digs. Schwamberger added 53 assists, 10 digs and four blocks (one solo) and Beiting served up four aces.
In Friday's other action at Malone, Notre Dame (OH) College fell to Shawnee State 25-21, 25-11, 25-12 in the early match before losing to Trinity Christian 25-23, 25-16, 25-21 in the nightcap.
The Canton Comfort Inn Invitational, which is being co-hosted by Malone and Walsh University, will continue on Saturday. The action at Osborne Hall will get underway at 10:00 a.m. as Malone faces Aquinas (MI) College on Court One while Notre Dame takes on the University of Northwestern Ohio on Court Two. Then at 12:30 p.m., Malone will face UNOH on Court One and Notre Dame and Aquinas will square off on Court Two.
Schedule & Results of matches played at Malone during the Canton Comfort Inn Invitational
