At the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament in Aurora, Illinois on Friday, the Malone University volleyball team split a pair of matches on the day, falling to Maryville University (MO) 24-26, 20-25, 26-24, 16-25 but bouncing back to defeat Bellarmine University (KY) 14-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20. 

With the 1-1 non-conference mark on the day, the Pioneers moved to 9-11 overall (remaining at 6-5 in the GLIAC). Maryville improved to 10-8 overall after the Malone match while Bellarmine fell to 9-10.

In the Maryville match, outside hitter Anna Hays drilled 15 kills to pace the Pioneer offense while outside hitter Taylor Slauterbeck added 10 more kills to the team effort.  Setters Brianna Clegg and Jordan Sollars dished out 20 assists in the match.

Defensive specialist/libero Katie Hasebein and Slauterbeck tallied 14 and 13 digs, respectively, for the Malone defense.  In addition, in the blocks category, Slauterbeck and middle hitter Elizabeth Maczuzak led the way as Slauterbeck posted one solo block and two block assists while Maczuzak recorded three block assists.

In the Bellarmine contest, four Pioneers racked up double-digit kill totals led by outside hitter Shelbi Meek with 13.  Outside hitter Sarah Brent and Maczuzak each pounded down 11 kills while Hays added 10 more of her own. Sollars added 29 more assists to her season total while fellow setter Lindsay Ulfig chipped in with 16 more assists.

Maczuzak also had an outstanding day defensively for the squad as she tallied eight blocks (one solo, seven assists) while Hasebein tallied a team-best 21 more digs for the year.

Malone will finish out its Crossover Tournament competition tomorrow (Sat.) with one more match, this one against Saint Joseph's College (IN) in a 2:00 p.m. EDT contest (1:00 p.m. CDT).