The Malone University volleyball team went 1-1 on day one of the Eckerd College Invitational Friday in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Pioneers opened the year against a very good University of Central Oklahoma outfit, but suffered a three-set loss to the #22 ranked team in the country. Malone bounced back in the afternoon session with a four-set victory over host Eckerd College to earn the split.
 
Central Oklahoma 3, Malone 0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-23)
The nationally-ranked Bronchos had little trouble in the first set, posting a staggering .563 attack percentage with 18 kills and no errors over 32 swings while closing out the frame on an 8-1 run. Malone kept it tighter in the second set, closing to within a point at 16-15 on a kill from senior spiker Hannah Eliason, however, an 8-2 run allowed UCO to pull away and claim the 2-0 advantage.
 
In the final frame, Malone raced out to a 14-9 lead before a 5-0 UCO run tied it at 14-14. A kill by Anna Mallette later in the set helped Malone take a 20-18 edge, but the powerful Broncho attack produced five late kills during a 6-2 rally and eventually a three-set sweep. Central Oklahoma finished with 45 kills and a .385 attacking percentage, the highest mark by a Malone opponent since 2016.
 
Eliason, who also earned her first collegiate service ace, and Mallette led the Malone attack with 10 and nine kills, respectively. Freshman Kayla Jarosz added six kills in her collegiate debut while setter Elizabeth Selleny posted a team-high 16 assists.
 
In her first match as a libero, senior Sydney Black led the Pioneer defense with 11 digs. Senior outside hitter Faith Lau, who chipped in five kills and two aces to the attack, added seven digs on defense.
 
Malone 3, Eckerd 1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23)
After falling behind 8-0 to start the match, the Pioneers battled back to close the deficit to within a single point, holding off three set-points, but the Tritons ultimately won the race to 25. In the second set, Malone overcame an early four-point margin and took the lead for good on an Eckerd error and a Hannah Eliason service ace. Eliason put the set away with one of her team-high 10 kills in the match.
 
The third set was tied at 16-16 before Malone pulled away on a 5-1 rally featuring kills from Rachel Santos and Kayla Jarosz and a service ace from Elizabeth Selleny.  An alert attack and kill from setter Abbie Swaino ended the frame and gave the visitors a 2-1 edge.
 
The tightly-contested fourth set saw the hosts take a 22-19 lead, but the Pioneers won six of the final seven points as Eliason's match-clinching ace, her second of the match, spoiled the Tritons' home opener.
 
In addition to her 10 kills and two aces, Eliason contributed six blocks and three digs in an all-around solid performance. Rachel Santos followed with nine kills while Kayla Jarosz, Faith Lau, and Anna Mallette each totaled eight kills. Abbie Swaino recorded 20 assists and a pair of kills.
 
On the defensive end, Sydney Black collected a team-high 12 digs, Elizabeth Selleny, who posted 16 assists, had 11 digs, and Lau chipped in with 10. Jarosz added three blocks up front.
 
Up Next
Malone competes in day two of the Eckerd Invitational on Saturday, starting with a 10:00 am match against West Liberty. The weekend concludes with a 5:30 contest against G-MAC foe Tiffin.
 
Video and live stats links can be found at malonepioneers.com/broadcast