ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team battled Gustavus Adolphus in a tough MIAC match, losing in four sets, 23-25, 25-15, 25-19, 26-24 Wednesday evening in the Leonard Center. The defeat gives the Scots an overall record of 8-12, including a 1-6 mark in the conference. The Gusties improve to 15-4, 6-1 MIAC to remain in second place.

Macalester started well, closing the first set with a block by senior middle hitter Caitlyn O'Neil (Carmichael, Calif./Rio Americano) for a 25-23 victory. Junior outside hitter India Medaris (Napa, Calif./Justin Siena) had three kills in the set, as the Scots registered 10 kills with just one error. Gustavus, which received votes in this week's AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, rebounded in the second set with a 25-15 win.

After dropping the third set, 25-19, the Scots fought hard in the fourth set, erasing a 20-16 deficit with five straight points to lead 21-20. Junior outside hitter Clara Baumann (Wausau, Wis./Wausau East) had two kills in the run. The teams exchanged points, then the Gusties reeled off three straight points to set up match point, 24-22. Again Macalester answered, getting kills from Medaris and senior middle hitter Meghan Klapper (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury) to tie the score at 24-24. The comeback ended there, as Hanna Albers put away back-to-back kills to end the set, 26-24 and the match.

Medaris led the Scots with 13 kills and a .393 hitting percentage, while Baumann finished with nine kills and 12 digs. Senior setter Brooke Hunter (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) added eight kills to go with 16 assists and 15 digs, with first year right side Grace Brickner (Bronx, N.Y./Fieldston) tallying seven kills. Senior setter Samantha Bongiorno (Richardson, Texas/Shelton School) also had a double-double with 16 assists and 10 digs. Defensively, first years Alexis Foret (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas) and Hannah Detlaff (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire) contributed 29 and 18 digs, respectively. Albers led all players with 18 kills.

Macalester plays a pair of non-conference matches at St. Catherine against UW-Stout and Loras on Saturday, Oct. 15.

MAC (1) – 25 15 19 24
GAC (3) – 23 25 25 26