CANTON, Ohio -- The Malone University volleyball team returned to their home court inside Osborne Hall on Friday night for a Great Midwest Athletic Conference matchup with the Tiffin University Dragons. 

The Dragons (8-11, 5-3 G-MAC) needed all five sets in order to come from behind, and leave Osborne Hall with the 3-2 win over the Pioneers (6-11, 2-6 G-MAC).

The final set scores in favor of Tiffin were 25-13, 22-25, 13-25, 25-22, 15-7. 

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Dragons, aided by nine errors from the Pioneers, cruised in the opening set to take a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-13 victory. 

Malone battled back in set two. It was back-and-forth early on, but with Tiffin leading 12-9 the Pioneers went on a run that helped turn the momentum. 

MU scored five points in a row, including a service ace from Gabby Pelfrey, and kill from Grace Rosko to move ahead 14-12. 

Tiffin responded however, and actually held a 22-20 lead late in the set.

With their backs against the wall, and staring in the face of potentially falling behind 2-0 in the match, the Pioneers rallied. 

Malone scored the final five points of the set unanswered to score the 25-22 win, and even the match at 1-1. 

That late rally got the Osborne Hall crowd back into the game, which helped propel the Pioneers in set three. 

The set three results was never really in doubt, as Tiffin's last lead came at 6-5. A 7-0 Malone run, including a pair of service aces from Ri'Gyn Humes, gave the Pioneers a lead they never relinquished. 

The Dragons got as close as 19-13, before another 6-0 run from Malone closed out the set. 

Midway through the fourth set the Pioneers looked poised to finish off the Dragons, but Tiffin fought back. 

Malone led 16-10 midway through set four, but this time it was a huge Tiffin run that tipped the momentum. 

The Dragons put down nine of the next eleven points to move ahead 19-17. TU eventually pulled out the 25-22 win to force a decisive fifth set. 

Back-to-back errors from Tiffin gave Malone a 2-0 lead to start, but when the Dragons rallied back to take a 3-2 lead they never trailed again. 

TU opened up a 10-5 lead, and then closed out the match with five of the next seven points to score the win. 


PIONEER POINTS

• Taylor Small was inserted into the lineup in the middle of the match, and provided Malone's offense a spark. The junior finished with seven kills, which was tied with Grace Rosko for second on the team.
• Anna Mallette put down a team-high 13 kills which led the offense. Her season total now stands at 175.
• Macy McCauley, who took over libero duties last weekend, led the team with 21 digs. 
• Gabby Pelfrey (16) and Molly Bullion (13) both had double-digit assists for Malone

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Pioneers will close out this current homestand tomorrow afternoon with a 1:00 p.m. match against the Ashland University Eagles.