COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Malone University volleyball team swung for the fences in their final match of 2025 and after a set one victory, the Pioneers ultimately came up short to the Ohio Dominican University Panthers, 3-1. Malone ends the year having lost seven straight matches at 6-21 and 5-11 inside the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Ohio Dominican on the other hand have won seven in a row to move to 23-5 and 13-2 in league play.
 
The Pioneers were triumphant 28-26 in the first set thanks in part to 18 kills and three aces in the period. The teams traded points back and forth through the early stages of the match until graduating junior Laiken Wallick threw down consecutive kills to go up 17-14 and force a Panther timeout. Six straight Ohio Dominican points put the home team in front 22-19, but Malone rallied for a 25-24 lead. A timeout allowed the Panthers to sneak back in front, however the Pioneers responded with three straight points to close the win. Sophomore Emma Weirich delivered a service ace to seal the deal.
 
Ohio Dominican imposed their will in a 25-11 set two victory. The Panthers hit .406 as a team and doubled the offensive output of Malone at 16-8 in kills. Changes in the third set were somewhat effective but Malone came up short in that period as well 25-21. An ace by junior Jaymes Gilbert gave the Pioneers a 14-11 lead, but Ohio Dominican put their foot on the gas for eight straight points, four of which on aces.
 
An early 9-1 advantage for the Panthers was too much for Malone to overcome in what would be the final set of the day. Junior Brianne Salinas had a few kills to bring her team-high total to 15 kills despite the 25-10 loss in the fourth. Salinas was the only player with double-digit kills for the Pioneer offense.
 
Other key contributors for Malone included sophomore Helaina Edgar with 35 assists as the primary setter. Gilbert was credited with 16 digs, one off her career-high. Freshman Hailey Conrad had eight digs and three block assists for the defense.
 
The Pioneers look ahead to the 2026 season of G-MAC volleyball after improving in conference play this season over last.