MIAMI SHORES, Fla. & FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Malone University volleyball team began the 2025 season in the Sunshine State of Florida on Friday, but came up short in both matches played. The Pioneers dropped their first match of the day at Barry University as well as their second contest at Nova Southeastern University, both in straight sets.
 
Malone falls to 0-2 while both their opponents are now 1-0. Barry was ranked #20 in the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II National Poll of the year and Nova Southeastern received votes.
 
MALONE vs #20 BARRY RECAP:
The nationally-ranked Bucs took control early on with a 10-3 scoring run to begin set one. Freshman Tori Dawson threw down a pair of kills mid-set, but it was not enough to overcome a scoring run by Barry in the 25-14 loss.
 
Freshman Arianna Buckley had two points with a kill and an ace to put the Pioneers in front 4-1 in the early goings of set two. The lead did not last long, but kills by junior Jaymes Gilbert kept Malone in striking distance at 16-13. The Pioneers were unable to keep up down the stretch in the 25-16 loss.
 
Set three was all Bucs and was highlighted by an 8-0 scoring run for Barry to help secure the 25-8 win to sweep the match. The opponents had 11 kills and zero errors in the third and final set and kept Malone to a negative hitting percentage.
 
Gilbert had the best hitting percentage in the match (.357) and tied with Dawson for the team lead with five kills each. Sophomore Helaina Edgar (nine assists) and freshman Mikayla Yockey (seven assists) split duties as setter. Freshman libero Madalyn Coblentz recorded a team-high nine digs.
 
MALONE vs (RV) NOVA SOUTHEASTERN RECAP:
The Pioneers had a strong showing in set one with early kills from junior Brianne Salinas and Yockey orchestrated the offense effectively. The score was 11-9 before the Sharks went on the attack for seven straight points. Sophomore Emma Weirich helped to spark a late rally, but it was not enough in the 25-18 loss in the first.
 
Nova Southeastern built a 15-4 lead to start the second set and that difference propelled the home team to a 25-10 win. The Sharks also controlled the final six points of the second set. The six kills by Malone in the set were spread evenly among Salinas, Gilbert, freshman Taryn McGonigle, freshman Hailey Conrad, Dawson and sophomore Marissa Smith.
 
The opponents jumped ahead early in the third set and did not look back to complete the sweep of the Pioneers, 25-13. Nova Southeastern rattled off 17 kills and a match-high .385 hitting percentage.
 
Salinas led the offense with five kills and Yockey had ten assists. Defensively, junior Jaclyn Jundzilo paced the squad with 11 digs from the back row. Malone had five blocks, with multiple block assists from Gilbert, Conrad and Dawson.
 
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers take on D'Youville University on a neutral floor in their final match of the Shark Invitational. First serve is scheduled for 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 6.