CANTON, Ohio - The Malone University volleyball team defeated Roberts Wesleyan University in their final match of the Hall of Fame City Challenge, 3-0. The Pioneers exit the weekend at 2-1 and the Redhawks fall to 1-3 overall.
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Malone dominated the three-set match with a 52-31 difference in points, 10-5 in aces, 7-2 in blocks and 47-37 in digs. Offensively, the Pioneers were a .236 hitting team and held their opponents to just .010 with 24 kills and 23 errors.
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Jaymes Gilbert recorded a team-high 11 kills with
Marissa Smith (7) and
Meryn Stacy (5) in tow.
Helaina Edgar dished out 17 assists and the setter alongside her in
Kelsey Williams tallied a team-high three aces.
Jaclyn Jundzilo was the lone Pioneer in double figures with 10 digs.
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Malone took a commanding 9-3 lead in set one after Williams scored back-to-back aces and distributed assists to
Brianne Salinas and Smith to increase the lead. The home squad kept a steady pace and netted seven of the final eight points in a 25-14 set one victory. The Pioneers had nine kills and two errors (.333 hitting percentage) and the defense kept Roberts Wesleyan to a -.077 mark with six kills and eight errors.
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The second set was much more evenly contested, but Malone was able to secure the 26-24 win to go up 2-0. The Redhawks took a six-point lead at 18-12, but the Pioneers battled back with the help of four aces by
Madalyn Coblentz (two), Jundzilo and Edgar. A block by Gilbert and Stacy as well as a kill off the fingertips of Smith broke the 24-24 tie and gave Malone the set two victory.
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Stacy netted the first three points of set three with a kill and two aces. Another kill from the freshman moved the Pioneer lead to 14-7 later in the period.
Audra Brandenberg entered late and put together a kill and two block assists to clinch the 25-14 set three win.
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Up next, Malone travels to Gannon University for four matches beginning on September 4. The Pioneers face the host Golden Knights at 12:15 P.M. and then Clarion University at 4:45 P.M.
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