GRANTHAM, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's volleyball team opened the 2026 season Saturday by splitting a pair of matches at Messiah University. Grove City (1-1) picked up a 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 victory over Cairn in Saturday's first match. Host Messiah downed the Wolverines in the finale, 25-13, 25-11, 25-18.

Freshman Evan DiMalanta (Medina, Ohio/Highland) paced Grove City against Cairn by recording a match-high 11 kills. Junior Carson Good (Jeannette, Pa./Penn-Trafford) contributed eight kills while senior Tieg Malcolm (New Philadelphia, Ohio/Homeschooled) added seven kills. 

Junior setter Craig Fair (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) recorded 31 assists.

Defensively, Fair posted a team-leading six blocks. Junior Andrew Kessler (Jeannette, Pa./Penn-Trafford) added five blocks and Malcolm posted three total blocks. DiMalanta recorded six digs.

Good led Grove City with six kills against Messiah. Malcolm and sophomore Keith Otto (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) both chalked up five kills. Fair finished with 17 assists. 

Malcolm and junior Max Gianneski (Butler, Pa./Butler) shared team-high honors with five digs each.

Grove City will open its home schedule next Saturday by hosting Baldwin Wallace and Elizabethtown, starting at 12 p.m.