ST. PAUL, Minn. – Down two sets and trailing in the third, the Macalester College volleyball team came all the way back to beat Carleton, 22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 15-11 Friday night in front of a boisterous crowd in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 8-3 overall and open their MIAC schedule with a victory for the first time since 2004. The Knights fall to 3-8, 0-2 MIAC.
The win ends a stretch of 41 losses in MIAC matches, going back to a victory over St. Olaf on Sept. 23, 2016. The Scots also snap a six-match losing streak to Carleton.
After Macalester lost two closely-contested sets and were down 21-19 in the third set, it appeared the string of losses would continue. But the Scots had other plans, scoring six of the final eight points, including a pair of kills by junior
Eliza King (Novato, Calif./San Marin), to win the set 25-23 and extend the match.
Momentum stayed with the home side, buoyed by a loud and supportive crowd, in the fourth set. Macalester tallied the first four points and later broke open a close score with a 6-0 run that saw first year
Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) serve two aces and King put away two kills in a 25-16 victory. King had six kills in the set, as the Scots pushed the match to a fifth and deciding set.
The fans who packed the stands in the Leonard Center did not get what they were cheering for so easily, as Carleton led early and held a 9-7 advantage. But again the Scots responded with their backs against the wall, getting two kills apiece from King and first year
Gwen Wooten (Allen, Texas/Allen), and an exclamation-point kill from first year
Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) to out-score the Knights, 8-2 down the stretch.
King turned in another outstanding performance, registering a team-best 18 kills to go with three aces and 15 digs. First year
Stephanie Geber (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) tallied a career-high 14 kills with a .500 hitting percentage and had four total blocks, while Preston finished with 11 kills and a team-leading 20 digs. Norton racked up 43 assists, 16 digs and six service aces. First year
Torrance Williams (Houston, Texas/YES Prep Northbrook) contributed 17 digs defensively. Grace Perret led Carleton with 13 kills.
Macalester plays a non-conference match at Bethany Lutheran on Saturday, Sept. 18, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Mankato, Minn.
