The Malone University volleyball team, the number three seed in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) East Division, will travel to take on the University of Findlay, the number two seed in the G-MAC West Division, this Tuesday, November 6th for a G-MAC Championship Quarterfinal match at 8:00 pm.
 
The Pioneers come into the match at 16-15 overall on the season and 12-7 in G-MAC while the host Oilers come in at 22-6 and 16-3 in league play. Malone was swept by Findlay in three sets last Friday in the only meeting between the two teams this season. The winner of Tuesday night's match will advance to the G-MAC semifinals to face either Walsh or Cedarville on Friday. The entire bracket can be found on the 2018 Great Midwest Volleyball Championship webpage.
 
Match Info
11/6 Malone at Findlay – 8:00 pm
Live video: portal.stretchinternet.com/malone
Live stats: athletics.findlay.edu/sports/wvball/2018-19/boxscores/20181106_1uel.xml
 
Postseason History
This season marks the Pioneers' third straight appearance in the G-MAC Championship Tournament. In 2016, Malone defeated Kentucky Wesleyan in five sets in the opening round before losing to Cedarville in the semifinals. Last season, Malone was quickly ousted by Findlay in three sets in the the Quarterfinals. In its only other conference tournament appearance in the NCAA Division II era, Malone was swept by Findlay in the 2014 GLIAC Quarterfinals. Malone's last conference championship was in 2010 when they defeated Walsh and Mount Vernon Nazarene to claim the American Mideast Conference title.

Malone Notes

• The Pioneers have lost eight straight matches to Findlay dating back to their last win in 2012. In last Friday's match, the defense played well, holding one of the nation's top attacking teams to a .170 hitting percentage.
• Among the 14 teams in the G-MAC, the Malone defense finished 2nd during the regular season in digs, blocks, and opponent hitting percentage (.167). Among the 290 teams in NCAA Division II, Malone is 24th in total blocks (242.0).
• Middle hitters Mallory Adams (1.08 blocks per set) and Hannah Eliason (1.00 blocks per set) rank 2nd and 4th in the G-MAC, respectively.
• Adams also leads the team in kills (2.81 per set) and hitting percentage (.284) while Eliason is second in both categories (2.73 kills, .274 hitting percentage).
• While the play of the middles has been important, the play of the outside hitters will be essential. In Malone's 16 wins this season, Veronica Gehring is averaging 2.80 kills along with a .206 attacking percentage. In the 15 losses, those number dip to 2.25 and .109. Gehring was out with injury in last season's Quarterfinal match with Findlay when Malone had a season-low 19 kills.
• Junior outside hitter Faith Lau is averaging 2.25 kills per set, she leads the team with 31 service aces, and ranks second on the team with 330 digs (3.14 per set). Lau and right side hitter Rachel Santos (1.59 kills per set) give Malone five viable options on the attack.
• The Pioneers have employed a two-setter rotation late in the season. While senior Cathryn Miller leads the team and ranks 6th in the G-MAC in assists (8.76 per set), sophomore Elizabeth Selleny has two double-doubles in the last four matches.
• Senior libero Maggie Hamrock is 6th in the G-MAC in digs per set (4.69) this season. She had 17 in three sets last week versus the Oilers.
• Defensive specialists Abby Hasebein (2.67 digs per set, 27 aces) and Sydney Black (2.36 digs per set, 26 aces) round out a stellar defensive back row.
• Malone has travelled well this season and is 6-4 on the road. Three of the four losses have gone to four sets and two have gone to five.
   

Findlay Notes 

• The Oilers are 10-1 at home this season, their only loss being a four-setter to G-MAC #1 seed Hillsdale.
• Findlay leads the G-MAC and ranks 4th in Division II in hitting percentage (.278). They also lead the country in service aces per set (2.51).
• All-American setter Hailee Olson ranks 2nd in the G-MAC in assists (11.57 per set) and 5th in aces (38). All-American outside hitter Amanda Winner is 10th in the G-MAC in kills (3.27 per set) and 3rd in aces (43).
• Findlay finished as the runner-up in the 2017 G-MAC Championship. The Oilers went on to earn an at-large bid into the Midwest Regional where they reached the semifinals. Last week, Findlay was ranked 10th in the Midwest Region rankings.