The Malone University volleyball team picked up a pair of impressive season-opening victories on day one its own Hall of Fame City Challenge. The Pioneers kicked off the 2017 campaign with a 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23 triumph over the University of Charleston Friday morning before topping the University of West Alabama 25-21, 25-20, 25-13 Friday afternoon. With the victories, the Pioneers start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2013.
 
In the opener, Malone got off to a hot start winning five of the first six points before holding on to claim the first set. In the second set, Malone fought back from a 7-1 deficit, winning seven of the last nine points in a 25-20 victory. After being swept in three sets by the Golden Eagles last season, the Pioneers nearly returned the favor, but the visitors closed out the third set on an 8-1 run to force a fourth. The two teams battled to a 22-22 deadlock in the final frame, but a Mallory Adams kill and two Golden Eagles errors allowed Malone to capture the victory.
 
Despite landing 10 fewer kills against Charleston, the Pioneers took advantage of 47 Golden Eagle errors on their way to their third consecutive season-opening victory.
 
Adams, Veronica Gehring, and Faith Lau paced the Pioneers with 10 kills apiece. Freshman Rachel Santos added eight kills in her collegiate debut. Setter Cathryn Miller collected 37 assists while Julia Marino recorded a team-high three service aces.
 
Miller picked up a double-double, tallying a team-high 13 digs along with three blocks defensively. Maggie Hamrock chipped in with 10 digs while Sydney Black registered nine. Adams added eight digs and a team-high six blocks, picking up where she left off as an All-Conference sophomore last fall.
 
In the nightcap, the Pioneers never trailed by more than two points in any part of the three-set sweep. Malone put on an outstanding hitting display, committing just 10 attack errors, the lowest total since 2015, along with 40 kills. In the decisive third set alone, Malone finished with 17 kills compared to just two attack errors.
 
Mallory Adams once again led the assault, piling up 14 kills and only two errors on 26 swings. Her .462 hitting percentage was the third-highest figure in her career. Her top-two best matches in terms of hitting percentage, coincidentally, also came at HOF City Challenge matches as a freshman and sophomore.
 
Aiding in the attack was Faith Lau, who landed 11 kills, and freshmen Rachel Santos (5), Brooklyn Sullivan (4), and Georgia Kiko (3), who combined for 12 more. Cathryn Miller pieced together her second straight double-double, totaling 31 assists and a team-high 15 digs.
 
Maggie Hamrock chipped in 14 digs while Lau and Adams scooped up eight apiece. Julia Marino totaled seven digs while Miller and Adams each also collected two blocks.
 
Malone will be back in action on Saturday, hosting Mercyhurst at 9:00 am and Northwood at 4:30.