CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University volleyball team kicked off the 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend with a thrilling five-set match against the Ashland University Eagles. The Pioneers came up just short 3-2 and fall to 4-10 on the season and 2-3 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) while Ashland is 9-4 and 3-1 inside the league.
The Pioneers fell behind in the first set after a 25-18 loss.
Emma Weirich had three kills in the first to spark the offense.
Macy McCauley had seven first set digs as well to get her day started on the right foot.
A flurry of error from both sides set up Malone for an opportunity to even the match. The Pioneers won the second 25-23 capped off by a block from
Brianne Salinas and
Grace Rosko. The Pioneers were able to score the final six points in the set to claim the win.
After the team honored new Malone University Athletics Hall of Famer Erin (McAlarney) Snellgrove between sets, Malone recorded a match-high 12 kills for a 25-20 victory. The lead changed hands six times and the score tied 15 times in the third alone.
Jaymes Gilbert and
Marissa Smith each had four kills and Gilbert was in on four block assists.
Malone looked as though they would close it out after scoring the first five points in the fourth set, but Ashland would turn on the jets with their backs against the wall. The Eagles would pull away to a 25-20 victory in the fourth to force a fifth and final set of the night.
Ashland carried that momentum into that stretch and seized control 8-1 in the fifth. Malone fought hard, but were unable to dig themselves out of the hole and fell 15-7.
The Eagles outmatched the Pioneers in kills 61-36, but Malone was able to use the block to their advantage with 13 in total. Gilbert tied her career-high by being involved in nine total blocks (two solo, seven assists). In the back row, McCauley recorded 29 digs, while
Alyssa Jacob and
Mallory Meinen each had 12.
Malone travels to Seton Hill University for a rematch with the Griffins on Monday, October 7 at 6:00 P.M.
