ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team lost a close match to Grinnell College, 3-2 before defeating Alverno College in three sets to close out the Macalester Invitational Saturday afternoon in the Leonard Center. The Scots went 3-1 this weekend to improve to 7-7 on the season.

In the match against Grinnell, Macalester lost the first set, 25-19 before responding with 26-24 and 25-20 wins in the next two sets. The Pioneers were able to force a fifth set with a 25-17 victory in the fourth set. With the score tied at 10-10 in the final set, Grinnell tallied five of the next seven points, including two kills by Kaylin Kuhn, to win the set and match, 15-12.

Senior outside hitter Sofi Ascencio (Oakland, Calif./Holy Names) and junior right side Grace Brickner (Bronx, N.Y./Fieldston) each had 15 kills, while senior outside hitter Nicole Bennington (Shelton, Wash./Olympia) registered 14 kills. Senior setter Emily Bowler (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) racked up 54 assists to go with 13 digs, as the Scots hit a season-best .232. Defensively, sophomore libero Abrielle Dillon (Brown Deer, Wis./University School of Milwaukee) had 22 digs, with Ascensio adding 18 digs. Kuhn ended up with 31 kills for Grinnell.

In the final match of the tournament, Macalester was able to top Alverno in three competitive sets, 25-21, 25-18, 26-24. The final set went back and forth, with neither team leading by more than two points for the entire set. Alverno thwarted the Scots' first match point, tying the score at 24-24. But a service error and a kill by sophomore middle hitter Kendall Ford (Seattle, Wash./The Northwest School) gave Macalester the sweep.

Bennington led the Scots with nine kills, while Brickner and sophomore middle hitter Sofia Parmelee (Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly) recorded six kills apiece. Bowler finished with 23 assists to help her team hit .226. Dillon and junior defensive specialist Hannah Detlaff (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire Memorial) paced the defense with 14 and 10 digs, respectively.

Ascencio made the seven-player all-tournament team, which was voted on by the coaches. The team also includes Kuhn and Payton Lowrey of Grinnell, Elyse Wanzenried and Abby Loe of Carleton, Eva Laun-Smith of Beloit and Cailey Jeske of Alverno.

The Scots return to MIAC play on Thursday, Sept. 20 at Concordia College. The match begins at 7:00 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn.

MAC (2) – 19 26 25 17 12
Grinnell (3) – 25 24 20 25 15

MAC (3) – 25 25 26
Alverno (0) – 21 18 24