October 30, 2007

Pioneers Clinch Spot In AMC Tournament With 3-0 Win At Ursuline

 
The Malone College volleyball team clinched a berth in the American Mideast Conference Postseason Tournament on Tuesday night with a 30-19, 30-26, 30-24 AMC North Division victory at Ursuline College.  The win improved the Pioneers’ overall record to 19-16 (9-3 AMC North) and moved the squad into a tie with Point Park (PA) University for second place in the AMC North Division standings.  The Arrows remain in fourth place with the loss as their overall record fell to 18-17 (8-5 AMC North).
 
Jennifer Gahagan (Fr., Ravenna Southeast H.S.) paced Malone in the three-game triumph with 13 kills and 21 digs.  Erica Gann (So., Meadowbrook H.S.) followed with eight kills and five blocks (two solo) while Kristen Schoolcraft (So., McKinley H.S.) posted eight kills with four blocks (two solo).  Lori Ickes (Fr., Smithville H.S.) added seven kills, 20 digs, and four service aces and Alyssa Dibell (So., Fairless H.S.) handed out 37 assists and scooped up 14 digs.
 
Malone will conclude its regular season schedule on Saturday when it hosts an AMC North tri-match with Point Park (PA) University (25-10, 9-3 AMC North) and Daemen (NY) College (10-24, 4-8 AMC North).  Malone will open competition with an 11:00 a.m. contest against Point Park.  Daemen and Point Park will then face-off in a 1:00 p.m. match before Malone and Daemen conclude the afternoon’s action with a 3:00 p.m. contest. 
 
Entering the final weekend of the regular season, Notre Dame (OH) College currently sits atop the AMC North Division with a 10-2 conference mark. Point Park and Malone follow at 9-3 and Ursuline is now in the fourth position at 8-5.  The top three teams from the North Division and the top three teams from the South Division will qualify for the AMC Postseason Tournament which will be hosted by NAIA #15 Mount Vernon Nazarene University next weekend (MVNU has already secured the South Division’s #1 seed).  Depending on the outcome of Saturday’s contests, Malone could finish the regular season in first, second, or third place in the AMC North Division standings.
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