The Malone University volleyball team's eight-match Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) winning streak came to an end on Saturday as the Pioneers lost in four sets to Cedarville University. The 27-25, 23-25, 15-25, 21-25 setback dropped Malone to 8-2 in conference this season and 13-6 overall. Despite the loss, Malone maintains its first-place position in the G-MAC East.
 
Recap
The Pioneers fell behind 10-5 in the opening set, but fought back to tie it with a 5-0 run and later took a 21-18 lead on a 7-1 run. The Pioneers needed four-set points, but they eventually claimed the set from the defending G-MAC Champions on a Rachel Santos kill and a combined block by Mallory Adams and Veronica Gehring.
 
The Pioneers never led by more than two points in the second set and would see themselves down 23-17. Malone battled back to win six of the next seven points, but a service error gave the Yellow Jackets the set.
 
Malone managed a 9-6 lead in the third, but a 7-1 run gave Cedarville a 13-10 lead and the momentum they needed to capture the set. In the fourth, Malone battled throughout and led 20-19 late in the frame. The Yellow Jackets won six of the final seven points, however, to secure the four-set victory in front of Homecoming crowd of 808 in attendance.
 
As a team, Malone hit just .143 in the match and .056 across the final two sets. The Jackets hit .199 and recorded eight service aces compared to Malone's three.
 
Veronica Gehring and Mallory Adams each posted 10 kills to lead the Malone attack. Hannah Eliason and Rachel Santos each registered seven kills. Cathryn Miller tossed up 21 assists and a pair of aces while Abbie Swaino added 14 assists.
 
Defensively, Miller led Malone with 14 digs as she posted her eighth double-double of the season. Adams had 13 digs while libero Maggie Hamrock totaled 11. At the net, Gehring collected a career-high six blocks. Adams and freshman middle hitter Brooklyn Sullivan each recorded five blocks.
 
2016 G-MAC Player of the Year Gabby Olson hit .435 with 11 kills, nine digs, eight blocks, and four aces to lead Cedarville.
 
Up Next
Malone will be off until next Saturday, October 14th when Salem international comes to Osborne Hall as the Pioneers celebrate Homecoming.