ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team closed out the 2019 season with a three-set loss to Hamline, 25-19, 25-21, 26-24 Saturday afternoon at Hutton Arena. The Scots end the season 4-21 overall and 0-11 in conference play, while the Pipers finish the year 13-14, 3-8 MIAC.

All three sets were competitive, as Macalester was looking to end the season on a high note. In the first set, the Scots tied the score at 17-17, only to have Hamline tally eight of the final 10 points. The Pipers jumped out to leads of 16-5 and 21-7 in the second set before Macalester fought back. Senior middle hitter Ashley Helfinstein (Sunnyvale, Calif./Homestead), junior middle hitter Sofia Parmelee (Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly) and first year outside hitter Eliza King (Novato, Calif./San Marin) delivered two kills apiece in a 14-3 run. But Hamline scored the final point to win the set, 25-21.

In the third set, the Scots came from behind to take a 23-22 lead. The Pipers scored the next two points to set up match point, but King tied the score with a kill. In the end, Hamline's Madison Hurrle and Sydney Larson notched kills to close out the set and match, 26-24.

King led Macalester with 11 kills to go with seven digs and two blocks. Parmelee added seven kills while hitting .500 and registered five blocks. Sophomore setter Claire Loomans (Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) dished out 27 assists and had three blocks, while first year defensive specialist Katrina Schoen (Grafton, Wis./Cedarburg) registered 15 digs. Larson led all players with 12 kills.

The match also was the final contest at Macalester for seniors Helfinstein, Hannah Detlaff (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire) and Deborah Pickford (Denver, Colo./East).