The Malone University volleyball team split a pair of contests in a non-conference tri-match with Mountain East Conference (MEC) opponents Notre Dame College (OH) and Wheeling Jesuit University (WV) to move its record to 7-22 on the season.

 Coming into the weekend, winners of their last two, the Pioneers made it three wins in a row with a three-set sweep over the Falcons of Notre Dame. In the nightcap, Jesuit showed why they were the defending National Champions with straight sets sweep of the Pioneers.

In the opener, Malone earned its second win of the year over Notre Dame (15-16) after opening the season with a win over the Falcons at home.  Malone captured the first two sets 27-25 and 25-20 before needing a come-from-behind effort in the third frame. Leading 23-17, the Pioneers nearly squandered a six-point lead as the Falcons won seven of the next eight points to tie it at 24-24. But the resilient group held off two set points at 25-26 and 26-27 before winning the final three points to earn the well-deserved victory.

The Pioneers hit a season-best .323 with 54 kills in the win. Veronica Gehring led the attack with 14 kills on a .444 hitting percentage. Hannah Meckstroth was equally impressive with a career-high 10 kills and a .476 attacking percentage. Mallory Adams chipped in with nine kills while Faith Lau and Haley Kool each added eight. Tori Hall contributed 26 assists and two service aces.

Defensively, Malone recorded eight team blocks and 63 total digs. Gehring and Adams each recorded four blocks while Lynsey Trusty led the backrow with 20 digs. Hall and Lau both added 11 digs in the win.

The three-set win was just the the third sweep of the season for the Pioneers. The 54 kills was the most in a three-set match since 2010.

In Saturday's nightcap, the #5 nationally-ranked Cardinals (32-2) lived up to their billing with a convincing 13-25, 13-25, 15-25 win over the Pioneers.

The hosts hit .398 across the match while holding Malone to just a .065 attacking percentage. In a small victory for Malone the Pioneers held a five-point lead over the defending champs at 12-7 at one point in the second set. After a timeout, though, the Cardinals would go on to win 18 of the last 19 points.

Mallory Adams collected eight of Malone's 23 team kills as Lau and Gehring each posted four apiece. Tori Hall provided 13 assists. Hall, Sydney Black and Maggie Hamrock each delivered a service ace.

Defensively, Trusty led the way with 13 digs while Adams and Cathryn Miller recorded three and two blocks respectively.

The Pioneers will host rival Walsh this Tuesday at 7:00 pm before going on the road for the final weekend of the season.