ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team wrapped up the 2022 season with a loss to St. Catherine University, 25-18, 25-19, 25-21 in a MIAC match Saturday evening in the Leonard Center. The Scots finish the season with a 14-13 record overall, including a 4-7 mark in conference play. The Wildcats (17-7, 8-3 MIAC) head to the MIAC Playoffs as the No. 3 seed.

For the second year in a row, Macalester posted a winning record. The last time the Scots had back-to-back winning seasons was 1999-2000.

In the first set, St. Catherine put away 19 kills compared to eight for Macalester in a 25-18 win. Sophomore right side Gwen Wooten (Allen, Texas/Allen) had a team-best three kills in the set. The Scots couldn't overcome a slow start in the second set, despite four kills from senior outside hitter Eliza King (Novato, Calif./San Marin), as the Wildcats held on to win, 25-19.

It looked like St. Kate's was going to cruise to a third-set win, as the Wildcats built an 11-5 lead. But Macalester showed a great deal of fight, scoring the next seven points, including a pair of kills from first year middle blocker Avery Rahe (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West), to lead, 12-11. The Wildcats regained the lead, but Macalester stayed close and tied the score at 20-20 on a kill by senior outside hitter Zoe Lowe (Longmont, Colo./Longmont). Three straight points by St. Kate's made the score 23-20 before a kill by senior outside hitter Annika White (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) brought the Scots to within two, 23-21. But the comeback ended there, as the Wildcats scored the final two points to end the match.

King and Rahe led Macalester with six kills apiece, while White, Lowe, Wooten and sophomore middle blocker Stephanie Geber (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) added four kills apiece. Senior setter Emily Drexler (Portland, Ore./Roosevelt) dished out 14 assists. Drexler, King and sophomore libero Torrance Williams (Houston, Texas/Yes Prep Northbrook) each had eight kills to lead the defense. Maggie Rosen paced the Wildcats with 13 kills.

After the match, the Scots honored seniors Drexler, King, Lowe, White, Carmen Quintos (Portland, Ore./Riverdale), and Katrina Schoen (Grafton, Wis./Cedarburg), who played in their final match for the Orange and Blue.