CANTON, Ohio - The University of Findlay Oilers stormed into Osborne Hall and defeated the Malone University volleyball team in three sets on Friday evening. The Pioneers fall to 5-16 overall and 5-5 inside the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Oilers, who are receiving votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, are 18-3 and 9-1 in league play.
 
Malone kept pace with Findlay in the opening points of the match, however an 8-2 scoring run for the visitors gave them a 22-14 advantage. Brianne Salinas had a pair of points late in the set with a kill and solo block, but the Pioneers fell 25-17. The Oilers used a 15-of-18 success rate on side outs to keep momentum.
 
Malone had better success in the second set despite a 25-22 loss. Annika Nichols and Laiken Wallick sparked a 5-1 scoring run to begin the period with a kill apiece. Findlay battled back and eventually took a 16-12 lead, but the Pioneers maintained their composure and remained in the fight. Wallick had two more kills from that point on, but it was not enough to give the team the lead back.
 
Seven points in a row for Findlay early in the third propelled the national powerhouse to a 25-12 victory to claim the match in straight sets. Malone was held to just three kills in the frame while the Oilers converted 19.
 
The Pioneers had fewer attack errors (19-14), but the quality of swings by Findlay was just too much at a .268 hitting percentage for the match. The Oilers also held a 63-44 edge in digs. Jaclyn Jundzilo was the lone Malone student-athlete with double-digit digs at 10.
 
Salinas paced the offense with 11 points, nine off of kills. Jaymes Gilbert used a solo block and four block assists to give her nine points in total. Helaina Edgar assisted on 23 of the team's 24 kills on the night.
 
The Pioneers return to the court on Saturday, November 1 versus Tiffin University. The action begins at 1:00 P.M.