Roster | Schedule | Staff | Photo Day

The Malone University volleyball team, under the leadership of veteran mentor Tanya Hockman, begins the 2019 season this week at the Eckerd College Invitational in St. Petersburg, Florida. Coming off a 16-16 season and their third-consecutive postseason appearance last fall, the Pioneers are motivated and galvanized towards an even better campaign this season as they seek to contend for a fourth-straight berth in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Championship.
 
This weekend on the road marks the first of three straight for the Pioneers, who are slated for just eight home matches this season, compared to 23 out of town. Following the trip to western Florida, Malone is scheduled to play non-conference tournaments in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Erie, Pennsylvania throughout the season. The Pioneers also face three road trips during the conference slate, including a lengthy trek to Nashville in early October and back-to-back road trips to end the season in November.
 
"We have to get ahead of a schedule like this and not let the schedule dictate how we perform," Hockman commented. "We have to be mentally prepared for it. It's something we can handle, we just have to manage it and really plan well."
 
The Pioneers play their home opener on Tuesday, September 17th against Ashland before beginning a 12-match G-MAC slate at home against Ohio Dominican on Friday, September 28th.
 
Along with a demanding and travel-intensive schedule, one of the biggest challenges for Hockman and her team, especially early on, is replacing four four-year starters, including middle hitter Mallory Adams, outside hitter Veronica Gehring, libero Maggie Hamrock, and setter Cathryn Miller. Adams, a three-time All-Conference selection, and Gehring each collected over 1,000 career kills, Hamrock 1,500 career digs, and Miller 3,300 assists. "We graduated an amazing class of student-athletes," Hockman beamed.
 
Despite the departures, the Pioneer roster features 11 returning athletes and a talented freshman class that goes six deep. Among the returners are five seniors expected to provide the bulk of the leadership.
 
"They are an exceptional group of five who really exemplify who we are at Malone," raved Hockman. "They are mission-driven, hard-working, relational, and have a broad perspective on what it means to be a successful student-athlete at the Division II level. They understand what matters most and I think they live it well."
 
Leading the way is 6'1" middle hitter Hannah Eliason, who was dominant at times during a breakout junior season in which she finished second on the team in kills (309), blocks (115), and hitting percentage (.267) and was named G-MAC Second Team All-Conference. Her big swings at the net over the past three season have created an energy in Osborne Hall that is almost palpable. A G-MAC All-Freshman selection in 2016, Eliason has shown tremendous progression and could be in store for even more great things in the upcoming season.
 
"She is not only powerful and can hit a heavy ball, she is a serious blocking presence," Hockman explained. "We will maximize every bit of her that we can. She is going to lead us offensively in a lot of ways. I think her best season is still in front of her and this year will be a great culmination to her Pioneer career."
 
Outside hitter Faith Lau also put together an outstanding junior season in 2018 when she led the team in service aces (32), ranked second in digs (339), and was fourth in kills (244). The 5'9" Lau is expected to be on the floor for the majority of the time as a six-rotation player as the team relies on her leadership and experience.
 
"There were moments last year where she was just brilliant all the way around," proclaimed Hockman. "We will need her to do that even more this year. Faith is an attacker who has to create her own shots since she's undersized, but we expect her to be a scorer. Not only at the net, but from the service line."
 
Defensive specialist Sydney Black has played in all but six sets for the Pioneers over the last three seasons, becoming an invaluable member of the bump squad in the back row. Black was third on the team in digs (270) and service aces (26) last season and could approach 1,000 career digs by the end of the fall.
 
"Sydney is the most overlooked piece of our senior class in the respect that she has three years of experience. We can put her in to any of the three back row positions and she can run our defense and bring all of the leadership skills that we need back there. She does all of those little things that may not show up on a statsheet, but are critical for team success."
 
Defensive specialist Sierra Lau, who played in 16 matches last season, and middle hitter Erica Roberts, who is recovering from an injury over the winter, fill out the balance of the senior class. 
 
The five-member junior class includes right-side hitter Rachel Santos, who played in 102 sets and totaled 159 kills last season, middle hitter Brooklyn Sullivan who provides depth and flexibility at the net, defensive specialist Savannah Line, who doubles as a thrower on the track & field team, and setters Elizabeth Selleny and Abbie Swaino. Selleny and Swaino each saw court time last season and bring drastically different skill sets to the position. The biggest question mark going into the season is whether Malone will run a one or two-setter system.
 
Abby Hasebein, the lone sophomore on the roster, is described by her coach as one of the best serve receivers in the conference. Hasebein appeared in 101 sets as a defensive specialist last year, totaling 266 digs in addition to 27 aces in the service game.
 
"Abby is emotional, passionate, and driven and she wants to win," added Hockman. "We expect her to anchor our defense and continue to bring energy."
 
This year's freshman class has Hockman excited for the future of the program. Anna Mallette, an All-Ohio outside hitter from Jackson High School, leads the contingent and could contribute immediately. She will be opposed on the right side by left-hander Kayla Jarosz, who brings an immense amount of high-level experience after leading Holy Name High School to a State Championship in 2018.
 
Cierra Gurney and Kristen Hankins are both competing at the middle hitter position, and, although undersized, bring enormous potential to the net in terms of both blocking and attacking. Anna Hopple, another Stark County graduate from Perry High School, adds unconventional versatility as a left-hander at the outside hitter position. Florida product Amber Robinson adds to the team's depth at setter and in the back row.
 
In a sport flush with six-footers, the Pioneer roster features just three active players taller than 5'9" but that is no cause for concern for Coach Hockman as she knows her team is abound with athleticism and can compete and win.
 
"We're going to lose some length at the net, but our athleticism and back row play will keep us in matches until we find ways to score."
 
Last season, the Pioneers' back row scooped up the second-most digs in the conference, averaging over 18 per set. Malone also ranked second in the G-MAC in opponent hitting percentage, extending rallies and turning defense into offense with over two blocks per set. Without a dominant outside hitter to create scoring, the play of the Pioneer defense will once again need to be prominent. Outside of that, this year's team should be fun to watch.
 
"I am looking forward to seeing how this team comes together," Hockman expressed. "There's a genuine synergy on our team and they create energy for each other. I look forward to figuring out how we can maximize the gifts and abilities of the athletes that we have. There is a lot of unmined potential."
 
Entering her 21st season, Hockman is also always quick to point out her assistant coaches, adding that she is "over-the-moon happy with who we have on staff." Associate head coach Rafael Gonzalez is a 19-year veteran and someone Hockman "couldn't live without." Graduate assistant Nick Serowski enters his first year with the program and is described as an "up-and-coming great coach."
 
The Pioneers open the season this Friday, September 6th against Central Oklahoma at 10:00 am.