HAMMOND, Ind. - On the final day of the Midwest Region Crossover, the Malone University volleyball team lost to McKendree University by a score of 3-0. Malone is now 5-13 overall while McKendree improves their overall record to 5-15.
 
Taryn McGonigle led the Pioneer offense with a team-high seven kills. Helaina Edgar (12) and Mikayla Yockey (11) split the duties at setter with double-digit assist totals. Jaymes Gilbert was a force defensively with five blocks (one solo) and eight digs, a mark tied with Yockey for most in the match for Malone.
 
Each team had 13 kills in a tightly contested set one. The Bearcats rallied for a 25-23 victory in the first after Hailey Conrad gave the Pioneers an 18-14 advantage. McKendree followed that kill with six consecutive points to shift momentum.
 
Self-inflicted wounds buried Malone in set two. 11 attack errors and a negative hitting percentage allowed the Bearcats to cruise to a 25-8 win in the second period. McKendree had a 13-2 edge on aces in the match, five of which came in this set for the Bearcats.
 
Tori Dawson and Elliona Stidd entered the game in the third set and played well despite a sputtering offense overall. They combined for six kills in the third, but McKendree was able to come away with the match-clinching victory by a score of 25-16.
 
The Pioneers return to Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action for the remainder of the regular season, beginning with a match on Friday, October 24 versus Thomas More University. That contest begins at 7:00 P.M. and will be Breast Cancer Awareness night inside Osborne Hall.