The Malone University volleyball team began the final week of the 2022 regular season on the road Tuesday night at Ashland University.
The Eagles came into the match, not only as the lone remaining team unbeaten in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play, but also as one of a just a handful of teams receiving votes in the most recent AVCA NCAA Division II Top-25 Poll.
The Pioneers battled late into both of the first two sets, but ultimately Ashland was able to come away with wins.
The third set was dominated by the Eagles as the home team came away with the 3-0 match win.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Final Score: (RV) Ashland University Eagles 3 - Malone University Pioneers 0 | 19-25, 19-25, 11-25
- Records: Ashland (23-6, 16-0 G-MAC) | Malone (11-17, 7-9 G-MAC)
- Location: Ashland, Ohio | Charles Kates Gymnasium
Malone came out and went back-and-forth with Ashland early on.
With the Eagles leading the first set 17-15, the Pioneers rattled off three unanswered points to take the late 18-17 lead. Freshman Gabi Smith came away with a kill to jump start the run that also included Malone's defense forcing Ashland into a pair of errors to put MU ahead 18-17.
Unfortunately AU answered back by scoring eight of the final nine points in the set to grab the 25-19 win.
In the second set the Pioneers found themselves down 20-15 late. Malone responded with kills by both Grace Rosko and Anna Mallette. An error by Ashland brought MU to within just two points at 20-18.
However, once again the Eagles closed the set out strong, this time scoring five of the last six points to pick up another 25-19 win.
The second set was all Ashland as the Eagles jumped out to an early 7-1 lead. AU never looked back, and closed out the match with a 25-11 win.
DETAILS
Kristen Hankins led Malone with eight total kills. CC Gurney finished with six, and Gabi Smith added four.
Molly Bullion led the Pioneers with 13 assists.
WHAT'S NEXT
Malone travels to Northwood University on Friday night. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
Original source can be found here.
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