The Malone University volleyball team endured its second five-set loss in as many matches Tuesday evening at Notre Dame College (OH) in an early non-conference matchup of Northeast Ohio competitors. The Pioneers fell to 1-4 on the season with loss, despite a gritty effort in the marathon affair. With the win, the Falcons improved to 4-1 on the young season.
 
Notre Dame 3, Malone 2 (25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-11)
Malone held the upper hand early and if it not for a first-set Notre Dame rally could have put the match away in three sets. The Pioneers were up 19-13 in the opening frame, but an 8-1 rally gave the Falcons the lead and some huge momentum on their way to winning the set.
 
Malone then battled back to win each of the next two sets. During the second set, the two teams were tied 14 times, including a 19-19 deadlock, but the Pioneers used a 5-0 run to even the match at a set apiece. The two teams then reached their 11th tie of the third set at 20-20, but again Malone pulled away late with a 5-0 rally.
 
The momentum shifted towards Notre Dame in the third set after Malone saw a 14-9 advantage disappear. Tied at 18-18 late, NDC used a 5-0 run to pull away and eventually force a deciding set. In an exciting fifth, the Pioneers overcame an 8-3 deficit to tie the score at 10-10, but the home team scored five of the final six points to earn the victory.
 
The two squads were tied a total of 36 times throughout the match and the lead switched sides on 21 occasions.
 
Junior Rachel Santos led the Malone attack with a career-high 15 kills. She was followed closely by freshman Anna Mallette, who recorded her first collegiate double-digit kill performance with 14. Faith Lau added 12 kills and Kayla Jarosz totaled 10. Abbie Swaino (27) and Elizabeth Selleny (24) divvied up 51 setter assists. In the service game, Lau collected three aces while defensive specialists Sydney Black and Abby Hasebein each had a pair.
 
On the defensive end, four different Pioneers collected at least 15 digs, including Lau (17), Black (17), Hasebein (16), and Swaino (15). Jarosz, Hannah Eliason, and Brooklyn Sullivan each produced three blocks at the net.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers travel to Detroit this weekend for four matches in the Wayne State Warrior Invitational.