CANTON, Ohio -- The Malone University volleyball program continued their midseason homestand on Friday night by hosting Tiffin University in Great Midwest Athletic Conference action.

The Dragons (5-1, 5-1 G-MAC) entered play ranked as the No. 19 team in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll, and they looked the part.

Tiffin controlled the momentum early on and was able to come away from Osborne Hall with a three-set, 25-13, 25-18, 25-19 victory over the Pioneers (1-5, 1-5 G-MAC).

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Anna Mallette opened up the match with a kill off an Abbie Swaino assist, but Tiffin gained control of the first set by countering with six straight points.

Back-to-back attack errors from the Dragons got Malone to within just five points at 16-11, but Tiffin outscored the Pioneers 9-2 the rest of the way to take the opening set by a final score of 25-13. 

The Dragons opened up the second set with two straight points, but Malone responded quick. Just a few possessions later a kill by Cierra Gurney tied the set at 4-4.

The score stayed within just one or two points for several possessions. Malone was never able to grab a lead, but they also did not let Tiffin pull away. Brooklyn Sullivan put down one of her three kills of the night to tie things up at 11-11, but unfortunately the Dragons countered with a big run. 

Tiffin scored five unanswered points, and never saw their lead dip below four points for the remainder of the set. They eventually grabbed a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-18 set two victory. 

Malone did not go quietly in set three. Tiffin jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but another kill from Sullivan combined with a Dragon attack error and an ace from Abbie Swaino quickly evened things at 3-3. 

With Tiffin leading 12-8 Malone forced two attack errors and got points from both Mallette and Anna Hopple to tie the match at 12-12.

Unfortunately much like the opening sets, the Dragons began to pull away late. Tiffin won set three 25-19 to secure the 3-0 match win. 

PIONEER POINTS

• Malone put together one of their strongest defensive performances of the season. The Pioneers totaled 49 digs, with Swaino recording a team-high 11. Malone also put down a season-high five total blocks. 

• Anna Mallette led the team's offensive efforts with 12.5 points. She had 11 kills and assisted on three blocks. The sophomore outside hitter has recorded double-digit kills in every single match she has played this season. 

• Audra Kocher and Abbie Swaino tied for the team-lead with 10 assists each. Kocher has now recorded double-digit assist numbers in all five of the matches she has played this season. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone will continue to stay at home next week when they host a pair of conference matches against Kentucky Wesleyan and Trevecca Nazarene. First up is the match against the KWC Panthers. Friday's first-serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.