The Malone University volleyball team earned a win in its Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) opener on Saturday afternoon, outpacing Ohio Dominican University 25-23, 25-11, 14-25, 25-20. With the win, Malone improved to 6-8 on the year as ODU dropped to 0-13.
 
Recap
In a scrappy contest from the first serve, Malone led by as many as five points in the opening set, but faced a 20-19 deficit late in the frame. Tied later in the set at 23-23, a pair of Brooklyn Sullivan kills resulted in the 1-0 lead for Malone.
 
In the second set, a storm of ODU errors, paired with nine Malone kills put the hosts ahead by two sets, but the tables turned in the third set when the Panthers recorded 14 kills compared to just three attack errors and cruised to the 25-14 victory.
 
In a seesaw fourth set, which featured 11 ties and five changes, neither team led by more than three points until Malone pulled away down the stretch. Looking at an 18-17disadvantage, Malone used a 7-1 run to separate before Hannah Eliason delivered a big time kill to end the match.
 
Eliason finished with a team-high 11 kills to go along with a trio of blocks. Faith Lau contributed eight kills, two aces, and six digs in the back row. Right side hitter Kayla Jarosz added eight kills while Elizabeth Selleny totaled a team-high 24 assists.
 
Sydney Black led the defensive efforts with a match-high 19 digs. Brooklyn Sullivan and Rachel Santos were each credited with two blocks apiece.
 
Up Next
Malone hosts West Liberty for the second non-conference match of the year with the Hilltoppers before travelling to Kentucky Wesleyan and Trevecca Nazarene next weekend.