KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ave Maria’s (Fla.) Elle Malczewski and Greta Heiney have been named the NAIA Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week after delivering a perfect weekend at the three’s position to help the Gyrenes open the season with two marquee wins. The junior Malczewski, a native of Maumee, Ohio, and the sophomore Heiney, from Wentzville, Missouri, went 3-0 together on the week and were a steady difference-maker in a pair of tightly contested duals on Feb. 27.
Ave Maria began the doubleheader with a 4-1 victory over receiving votes William Carey (Miss.), and Malczewski and Heiney set the tone with a straight-sets win at the No. 3 position. They defeated Taylor Parker and Grace Engels 21-14, 21-18, controlling the opening set and then closing out a more competitive second set to secure the point for the Gyrenes.
Later that day, Ave Maria faced a major test against No. 6 Mobile (Ala.). With the overall match tied 2-2, the No. 3 flight became the decider, and Malczewski and Heiney again delivered in two sets, beating Peyton Frazer and Kaylin Johnson 21-15, 21-19. The finish was the highlight of the day: trailing 19-18 late in the second set, the Ave Maria pair responded with poise, scoring the final three points to seal the win and clinch the dual for the Gyrenes, 3-2.
The pair boasts a 3-0 school record and a 3-0 season doubles mark to start the year.
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