The Malone University volleyball team remained undefeated through the opening weekend of the season after picking up wins over Mercyhurst (25-18, 25-21, 25-18) and Northwood (25-22, 25-23, 8-25, 25-22) on day two of the Hall of Fame City Challenge Saturday in Canton. With the victories, Malone begins the season 4-0 for the first time since 2010 when they started the year 15-0 and reached the NAIA National Tournament.
 
Malone 3 Mercyhurst 0
In Saturday morning's opener, the Pioneers combined a tremendous hitting performance mixed with an outstanding defensive effort to deliver a three-set sweep of the Lakers. Malone compiled 11 total blocks, including seven in the first set, while hitting .298 as a team including a .379 mark over the final two frames. The Pioneers never trailed in the first or last set and quickly overcame a 6-3 second set deficit, their largest of the match, with five straight kills, four of which coming from sophomore hitter Faith Lau.
 
Lau finished with a team-high 11 kills for the Pioneers. Junior outside hitter Veronica Gehring racked up 10 kills on just 14 swings. Mallory Adams and Rachel Santos provided seven kills apiece while setter Cathryn Miller contributed 31 assists. Defensive specialist Julia Marino tallied three service aces.
 
Adams and Miller led the defensive effort at the net, collecting six and five blocks respectively. Gehring recorded four blocks, one short of a career-high. Santos and Brooklyn Sullivan posted three blocks each. In the back, libero Maggie Hamrock totaled a team-high 13 digs while Miller chipped in with eight.
 
Malone 3 Northwood 1
In Saturday's second match, the Pioneers faced their stiffest test of the weekend, going up against a Northwood squad that came in with a matching 3-0 record. After nearly losing a nine-point lead in the first set and then squandering an 11-1 lead in the second, Malone battled to an early two sets to none lead. Following a shaky third set, the Pioneers took down the Timberwolves, winning the final three points of the match to secure the 25-22 victory.
 
Veronica Gehring led the Malone attack with 15 kills while Mallory Adams was right behind with 13. Rachel Santos checked in with nine kills from the right side. Cathryn Miller collected 37 assists from her setter spot.
 
Defensively, Maggie Hamrock registered a career-high 26 digs in the backrow. Miller added 13 digs en route to her third double-double of the season. Adams, who also led Malone with six blocks, totaled 11 digs as did defensive specialist Sydney Black. Faith Lau contributed nine digs and four blocks.
 
All-Tournament Team
Following the completion of Saturday's final match, Adams, Hamrock and Miller were each named to the Hall of Fame City Challenge All-Tournament Team.

Up Next
The Pioneers will be off until next weekend when they travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to compete in the Westminster Invitational on September 8-9.