ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team started the 2021 by defeating Crown and losing to Bethany Lutheran on the first day of the Macalester Invitational Friday in the Leonard Center. The Scots, who were 1-2 in an abbreviated 2020-21 season, will play two matches on Saturday to close out their invitational tournament.

In the day's first match, Macalester started and ended strong, winning 25-15, 25-6 and 25-20. The Scots totaled 37 kills, including 17 in the third set, and hit .300 for the match. Junior Zoe Lowe (Longmont, Colo./Longmont) led the way with 11 kills and a .300 hitting percentage, while junior Eliza King (Novato, Calif./San Marin) added nine kills, four services aces and eight digs. First year Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) dished out 21 assists and led the Scots defensively with nine digs. First year Stephanie Geber (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) contributed four kills and three total blocks.

Against Bethany Lutheran, Macalester dropped the first set, 25-16, then battled in the second set. Kills by King and first year Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) tied the score at 22-22, then the teams exchanged points to make the score 23-23. A Macalester service error and a kill by the Vikings gave Bethany Lutheran the second set. The third set also was close, but the Scots ultimately fell, 25-22.

King tallied 15 kills, eight digs, three aces and three blocks for Macalester. Preston added three kills, while Norton delivered 22 assists and had 10 digs. First year Torrance Williams (Houston, Texas/Yes Prep Northbrook) paced the defense with 19 digs.

On Saturday, the Scots face Coe and Buena Vista at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., respectively on the final day of the Macalester Invitational.

Crown box score

BLC box score