ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team kicked off its home schedule with a four-set victory over North Central University Tuesday night in the Leonard Center. The Scots, who won by scores of 25-15, 25-22, 26-28, 25-18, improve to 2-3 on the season.

Junior outside hitter Clara Baumann (Wausau, Wis./Wausau East) had four and five kills in the first and second sets, respectively to help the Scots take a two-set lead. In the third set, Macalester had match point three times, only to have the Rams (0-5) take the point and stay alive. A pair of errors by the Scots created set point for North Central, and Anna Larson put away a kill to force a fourth set.

The fourth set remained close until Macalester broke a 14-14 tie with five straight points, including kills by senior outside hitter Brooke Hunter (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater), senior right side Sarah Silbert (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park) and senior middle hitter Caitlyn O'Neil (Carmichael, Calif./Rio Americano). The Scots maintained the lead down the stretch and scored the final three points on kills by Baumann and Hunter, and a service ace from sophomore setter Sofi Ascencio (San Francisco, Calif./Holy Names).

Hunter and Baumann finished with 14 kills apiece while posting double-doubles. Baumann added 22 digs and three aces, while Hunter delivered 19 assists and nine digs. Ascencio registered 16 assists and three aces, and senior defensive specialist Hoai-Nam Bui (McLean, Va./Langley) tallied 18 digs. Karlee Huber led the Rams with 11 kills.

Macalester heads to Stevens Point, Wis., to participate in the UW-Stevens Point Tournament on Sept. 9-10.

MAC (3) – 25 25 26 25
NCU (1) – 15 22 28 18