The Malone University volleyball team fought off four set points in capturing the opening set but couldn't keep the lead as they fell to Saginaw Valley State (MI) University 27-25, 18-25, 13-25, 22-25 Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers saw themselves down 21-24 in the first set but held off three set points to tie it up 24-24. After facing another set point at 24-25, kills by Sarah Brent and Elizabeth Maczuzak gave Malone the lead. Brent's service ace gave Malone the 27-25 first-set victory.

The next two sets, however, were all Saginaw Valley as the Cardinals never trailed in holding the Pioneers to an .083 attack percentage while hitting at a .372 clip. The fourth set saw Malone stave off three more set points but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers lost 22-25.

Haley Kool, Elizabeth Maczuzak, and Mallory Adams each had 8 kills for Malone. Maczuzak tied a career-high with 4 service aces. Freshman setter Cathryn Miller earned her third double-double of the season after collecting 26 assists and a career-high 19 digs.  She also added a career-high 4 kills for good measure. Libero Maggie Hamrock chipped in with 13 digs while Haley Kool supplied 5 blocks.

Saginaw Valley State outside hitter Andrea Brigham, coming into the match averaging 3.20 kills per set, added to her impressive season with 19 kills in the match.

The Pioneers are off until Friday, October 9th when they travel to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to meet Northern Michigan University before facing Michigan Tech University Saturday, October 10th.