AURORA, Ill. – The Macalester College volleyball team started the 2023 season at the Aurora University Tournament on Friday, losing to UChicago in three sets at Thornton Gymnasium. The Scots, who lost by scores of 25-22, 25-14, 25-20, were 14-13 in 2022. The Maroons went 20-13 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The first set was close throughout, with the score tied at 18-18 at one point. After UChicago built a 23-20 lead, kills by juniors Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) and Torrance Williams (Houston, Texas/Yes Prep Northbrook) brought Macalester to within one, 23-22. But the Maroons tallied the final two points to take the set. After UChicago took the second set handily, the Scots fought hard in the third to keep it close. With the score 19-17 Maroons, Macalester received a pair of kills from junior Gwen Wooten (Allen, Texas/Allen) and another from junior Stephanie Geber (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) down the stretch before losing the third set, 25-20.

Sophomore Avery Rahe (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West) tallied seven kills and Wooten added six kills to lead Macalester. Junior Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) and first year Hannah Morrow (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) split the setting duties and registered 11 and 12 assists, respectively. Morrow also had a team-high 12 digs. Thalita Marangon paced UChicago with 10 kills and a .450 hitting percentage.

Macalester continues play at the Aurora University Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 2 with matches against Aurora at 11:00 a.m. and Cornell College at 1:00 p.m.

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