The Malone University volleyball team concluded the Wayne State University Warrior Invitational on Saturday night with an exciting five-set victory over the hosts in the second of two matches. Prior to their win over the Warriors, Malone fell in three sets to Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) in the morning session. Now through two weeks this season, the Pioneers own a 3-6 record.
 
UMSL 3, Malone 0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-15)
Taking on the unbeaten Tritons, Malone struggled with their size and the experience in the three-set defeat. The Pioneers totaled just 29 kills in the match while six-footers Charlotte Richards, Selena Notle, and Kylie Rudsinski, who were all named to the All-Tournament Team, combined on 31 of UMSL's 43 kills.
 
Anna Mallette, Kayla Jarosz, and Faith Lau each posted a team-high six kills. Setter Elizabeth Selleny tallied 13 assists and 14 digs. Senior libero Sydney Black recorded 18 digs, and senior middle Hannah Eliason added three blocks to pace the defense.
 
Malone 3, Wayne State 2 (25-18, 17-25, 25-23, 31-33, 15-6)
In already their fourth five-set match of the season, the Pioneers opened up an early advantage against the Warriors in the opening set, answering a 14-13 deficit with a 12-4 run highlighted by three kills from Rachel Santos. Wayne State countered with a 13-4 run in the third set to even the match at one.
 
Malone would lead by as many as seven points in the third stanza before WSU closed to within a single point. A pair of late kills from Brooklyn Sullivan, however, put the set away.
 
In a remarkable fourth set, the Pioneers once again led by seven at 19-12, but the Warriors chipped away and were able to catch Malone at 23-23. Seven lead changes later, Wayne State prevailed 33-31 following back-to-back Malone attack errors.
 
Despite failing on four match points in the fourth, Malone bounced back in a big way in the final set, racing out to a 6-1 lead and never looking back as they improved to 2-2 on the year in five-setters.
 
Freshman Kayla Jarosz finished the match with a season-high 16 kills as a part of Malone's balanced offensive attack. Faith Lau registered a season-high 15 kills, Hannah Eliason and Brooklyn Sullivan each totaled nine kills, Anna Mallette had eight kills and Rachel Santos produced seven.
 
Junior setter Elizabeth Selleny handed out a career-high 35 assists while classmate Abbie Swaino distributed 25 assists. Both had two service aces, as did Lau. Sydney Black added to her team-high total with three aces.
 
Black also led the back row with 16 digs while Lau tallied 13 digs on the way to her fifth double-double of the season. Mallette and Abby Hasebein chipped in with 11 digs apiece.
 
All-Tournament Team
Following their outstanding performances over the weekend, Kayla Jarosz and Rachel Santos were each selected to the All-Tournament Team. Jarosz led the Pioneers with 46 kills over four matches while Santos produced 34 kills and a team-high .294 attacking percentage.
 
Up Next
Malone will host Ashland this Tuesday, September 17th at 7:00 pm in its home opener.