The Malone University volleyball team nearly overcame a two-set deficit, but ultimately fell in five sets to Lake Erie, 24-26, 23-25, 25-13, 25-19, 11-15, Saturday afternoon in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) showdown. Malone falls to 7-17 on the season and 2-4 in G-MAC play while the Storm improve to 9-16 overall and 3-4 in G-MAC play.
 
Recap
The Pioneers showed their resolve in the opening set, storming back from a 24-16 disadvantage to stave off eight straight set-points during an 8-0 Abby Hasebein service run. Lake Erie countered with a kill and a block, however, to claim the set. In the second set, which featured 11 ties, Malone led by as many as five points at 16-11 and still led 20-17 later on in the frame, but the Storm raged to a two-set lead by winning eight of the final 11 points.
 
After allowing the Storm to hit .333 over the first two sets, Malone changed its approach on both sides of the net in the third and consequently produced one of its best performances all season. The Pioneers hit .452 with 16 kills while holding Lake Erie to a .000 attacking percentage and just eight kills in a 25-13 rout. The trend continued in the fourth as Malone totaled 15 kills and limited the visitors to a .043 attack percentage to force a decisive fifth.
 
An exciting final set saw the two teams play to a 11-11 tie, but the Storm rose to the occasion and won the last four points to put the finishing touches on a marathon victory. Malone totaled a season-high 102 digs and 70 kills – one shy of a season-high – in the two-hour, 10 minute match.
 
Freshman right side hitter Kayla Jarosz totaled a career-high 19 kills on a .395 attacking percentage to lead the Pioneer attack. Fellow right side hitter Rachel Santos produced 14 kills and a .371 attacking rate. Freshman outside hitter Anna Mallette recorded 13 kills while Cierra Gurney, Brooklyn Sullivan, and Faith Lau added seven apiece.
 
For the second straight match, both Pioneer setters achieved double-doubles. Elizabeth Selleny distributed a team-high 27 assists and collected a career-high 18 digs. Abbie Swaino finished with 25 assists and 12 digs in a multifaceted effort.
 
Senior libero Sydney Black led the back-row charges with a career-high 30 digs. Lau added 18 digs and Abby Hasebein chipped in 11 digs along with a season-high four service aces. Santos and Gurney each blocked two Storm attacks.
 
Up Next
Malone visits Walsh on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm in what will count as a non-conference match.