Box Score

The Malone University volleyball team began its weekend trip to Michigan on Friday night with a hard-fought Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at Saginaw Valley State University.  After dropping the first set of the night 25-16, the Pioneers evened up the match by grinding out a 27-25 triumph in set two.  The third frame provided even more drama as Malone fought back from a 24-19 deficit, surviving five straight match points before eventually taking the set 28-26.  The fourth frame was also a closely-contested affair with the two squads tied at 20-20 before the Pioneers managed to pull away down the stretch, cementing the win with a 25-22 triumph.

Malone improved to 12-8 overall and 5-5 in GLIAC play with the victory while the host Cardinals slipped to 9-13 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

Middle hitters Lauren Townley and Hannah Haver led the way for the Pioneers by posting 13 kills apiece.  In addition to their strong attack numbers, Townley also notched six block assists while Haver tallied six digs and four block assists.  Right-side hitter Diana Wallace added nine kills, three service aces and three block assists.  Setter Jackie Schwamberger recorded 38 assists, four kills, and nine digs.  Libero Allison Kirby also made solid contributions with a team-high 14 digs.

Lyndsay Reynolds led SVSU with 17 kills, five aces, seven digs and six blocks.  Brooke Tiller added 24 digs.
 
After facing the Cardinals in University Center, Michigan, Malone will continue north to the Upper Peninsula on Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. match in Sault Ste. Marie against Lake Superior State University (4-17 overall, 1-9 GLIAC).  Live statistics will be available during the contest at http://livestats.prestosports.com/lssu/