Malone University Athletics

CANTON, Ohio - The Malone University volleyball team (4-20, 2-10 G-MAC) clashed with the top team in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Ashland University (19-5, 13-1 G-MAC) and despite the loss, fought hard in a 3-1 defeat.
 
The Pioneers hit a slightly better percentage for the match (.161-.159) and dominated at the net with ten blocks compared to four by the Eagles. Ashland held a slight edge on digs (71-68) and aces (6-3). Jaymes Gilbert was the team leader with 10 kills and was involved in six blocks (all assists) on defense. Helaina Edgar dished out 24 assists and Kelsey Williams had 19. Three student-athletes had double-figure dig totals including Ella Kresak (18), Edgar (12) and Emma Weirich (10).
 
Set one went to Ashland by a score of 25-15. The visitors went up 9-2 and did not look back from there. The Eagles had 13 kills and just four errors in the set. Malone would come alive in set two and rebound for a 25-16 win. The Pioneers hit .414 in the period with 14 kills and two errors in 29 swings. The team was 13-for-17 (76%) on side out opportunities.
 
Gilbert recorded five kills in the third set, but it was not enough as Malone fell by a score of 25-19. The Pioneers had more kills in the set with 14 compared to 11 by Ashland, but the Eagles were able to have their own success on side outs at 75% (15-for-20) to claim the 2-1 advantage. Malone looked strong in set four as well, but was defeated 25-23. The Pioneer defense had five blocks, including four with Gilbert involved. Kresak had eight digs and the team recorded 22 in the fourth set. Ashland was relentless offensively, however with a match-high 16 kills in the period.
 
Malone returns to the court on Friday, October 30 against Northwood University. First serve inside Osborne Hall is set for 7:00 P.M.