CANTON -- On Saturday, the Malone University volleyball team welcomed the Lake Erie College Storm to Osborne Hall for the final home game of the 2022 season. 

The Pioneers dropped the opening set, but rallied back with three straight wins to pick up the 3-1 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) win. 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Malone University Pioneers 3 - Lake Erie College Storm 1 | 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21
• Records: Malone (11-16, 7-8 G-MAC) | Lake Erie (2-24, 0-16 G-MAC)
• Location: Canton, Ohio | Osborne Hall

HIGHLIGHTS
Despite coming in having lost 19 consecutive matches, the Storm came out of the gate strong in the opening set.

Lake Erie put down 18 kills compared to just 11 for Malone.

At one point LEC led the set 18-13 before ultimately settling for the 25-21 win. 

The Pioneers rallied back in the second set. Holding a 16-13 lead, MU rattled off four straight points. The run was capped off by a service ace from Hallie Pinkerton to put the Pioneers up 20-13. 

Lake Erie got as close as 24-19, but a service error gave Malone the 25-19 win. 

MU's defense held the Storm in check in the third set. LEC was forced into seven errors, and only managed 10 kills. 

On the other side of the net Malone was able to hold off a late rally by the Storm to get the win. Five straight points for the visiting team cut Malone's late lead down to 20-19, but once again the Pioneers were able to hang on for the win. 

A huge kill from Ri'Gyn Humes put Malone up 24-21. LEC countered with back-to-back points, but once again it was a service error that gave Malone the 25-23 set win. 

The fourth set was back-and-forth the entire way with neither team leading by more than just a few points. 

Malone actually found themselves down 16-15 midway through the set. Grace Rosko put down a kill to tie the set at 16-16. Kristen Hankins and Anna Mallette followed with kills of their own to put the Pioneers ahead 18-16. 

Those three points were actually part of a 6-1 Malone run that also featured a pair of kills from Gabi Smith that gave MU a 21-17 lead. 

In the end Ri'Gyn Humes was able to close out the Senior Day win with her tenth kill of the day. 

DETAILS
CC Gurney led Malone with 12 kills. It was her tenth time with at least ten kills this year. 

Grace Rosko (11), Ri'Gyn Humes (10), and Anna Mallette (10) also finished with double-digit kills.

Molly Bullion and Gabby Pelfrey each finished with 25 assists. 

Macy McCauley finished with 23 digs to push her over 500 digs for the season. 

WHAT'S NEXT
Malone will close out the 2022 season on the road next week. First up is a trip to Ashland University on Tuesday night. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. 

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit www.malonepioneers.com.