ST. PAUL, Minn.  –  The Macalester volleyball team made the short trip over to St. Catherine's for a MIAC matchup. The Scots forced the match to five sets but fell just short, and dropped the match 3-2. Macalester is now 7-10 (1-3 MIAC).
 
Macalester played tough in the first set, keeping it close, but a late Wildcats charge gave them the set, 19-25. Junior outside hitter Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie), sophomore outside hitter Grace Watkins (San Angelo, Texas/Georgetown), and sophomore right side Avery Rahe (Olathe, Kan./Olathe) combined for seven kills in the set. In the second set, after the Wildcats built a 4-1 lead, the Scots quickly came back to take the lead 8-6. The set went back and forth but the Scots maintained a lead, 16-11, with kills from Preston and Rahe. St. Catherine's answered with a 12-5 run, to build a 23-21 lead. However, the Scots' persistence and a kill by Preston gave Macalester the 25-23 set win and tied the match 1-1.
 
In set three, the score was back and forth. With the score tied at eight-all, Preston had two kills while Watkins added another to build a 13-9 lead. However, the Wildcats were able to overtake the Scots and win set three, 27-25. Junior middle blocker Stephanie Geber (Ovideo, Fla./Ovideo) started off the fourth set with a kill, to start a Macalester run. Watkins and first year middle blocker Sydney Stratton (North Liberty, Iowa/Liberty) each added their own kills to build a 14-7 lead over the Wildcats. St. Catherine's answered with a run of their own to tie the set at 19. However, Preston blasted down three kills in the final stages of the set to take it 25-23, and tie the match 2-2. The Wildcats took an early lead in the fifth set and held on to win the set 15-9. The Scots fell just short 3-2.
 
Preston led the Scots with 18 kills, while Rahe and Watkins each recorded seven. Geber played strong at the net leading the team with six blocks. First year setter Hannah Morrow (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) recorded 35 assists and 29 digs.
 
The Scots' next match will be Wednesday Oct 11. Macalester plays at home in the Leonard Center against Saint Benedict. The match is set for 7:00 p.m.