PEPPER PIKE, Ohio - The Malone University volleyball team won their first match away from home in 2026 on Saturday when they defeated Ursuline College in three sets. The Pioneers are now 3-6 overall and 1-1 inside the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) while the Arrows fall to 1-10 and 0-2 in league play.
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A kill by
Kassidy Gorsuch in the first set put Malone ahead 15-12, but a massive scoring run for Ursuline turned the tables and nearly cost the Pioneers the period. Eight straight points for the Arrows made the score 20-15, but Malone countered with seven consecutive points themselves to get back in front. The lead traded hands once more in the waning moments of the first, but kills by
Brianne Salinas and
Meryn Stacy helped give the visitors the 25-23 win.
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A pair of aces by
Helaina Edgar to open set two gave the Pioneers the early momentum with a 4-0 lead. Ursuline closed the gap and eventually put themselves in front at 16-15. They nearly had the second set won, but four straight Malone points with the Arrows at set point made it 26-24 Pioneers and a 2-0 lead.
Jaymes Gilbert had back-to-back kills to set up the scoring run.
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It was all Ursuline early in the third at 7-2, but
Kelsey Williams and
Madalyn Coblentz had aces to fuel the offense back to even and the set was neck-and-neck from there. The lead changed hands three times and the score was tied seven times, but in the end, it was the same result as set two with a 26-24 win for Malone to put the match to rest at 3-0.
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Serving was much improved from the last match with nine aces compared to five errors. Coblentz led the way with five on her own. Gilbert led a diverse scoring attack with a team-high eight kills. Williams (14) and Edgar (11) set up their teammates with assists.
Ella Kresak led a trio of Pioneers with double-digit dig totals with 14. Coblentz and Williams had 10 apiece.
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Up next, Malone makes a return trip to Lake Erie College in a rematch of the conference opener on Friday, September 18 at 6:00 P.M.
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