October 11, 2007

Malone Notches Victories Over Concordia (MI), West Virginia Tech

 
The Malone College volleyball team hosted a non-conference tri-match Thursday night and came away with wins in both of its matches.  The squad opened the evening of competition with a hard-fought 28-30, 30-26, 23-30, 31-29, 15-10 victory over Concordia (MI) University.  Following a neutral match between Concordia and visiting West Virginia University Institute of Technology, the Pioneers wrapped up the day with a convincing 30-16, 30-22, 30-16 triumph over West Virginia Tech.  Malone’s overall record improved to 13-13 with the pair of home wins while the squad’s American Mideast Conference North Division mark remained unchanged at 4-2.
 
Against Concordia, Erica Gann (So., Meadowbrook H.S.) smashed a season-high 15 kills in addition to posting four blocks (one solo).  Lori Ickes (Fr., Smithville H.S.) followed with 14 kills and 14 digs, Emily Beiting (Fr., Ft. Thomas, KY) registered 12 kills and a team-high 19 digs, while Kristen Schoolcraft (So., McKinley H.S.) posted seven kills and seven blocks (four solo).  Other important contributors in the five-game win included Alyssa Dibell (So., Fairless H.S.) with 55 assists and Kristi Beun (Jr., Kidron Central Christian H.S.) with four service aces.
 
In Thursday’s finale with West Virginia Tech, Gann again paced a balanced Pioneer attack with eight kills.  Beiting followed with seven kills, Jen Gahagan (Fr., Ravenna Southeast H.S.) registered five kills and a season-high six service aces, and Dibell dished out 17 assists.
The Pioneers will return to conference play on Tuesday evening (10/16) when they travel to South Euclid, Ohio for a 7:00 p.m. match with Notre Dame College (14-10, 6-1 AMC North).
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