NEW ULM, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team earned its first victory of 2023 with a four-set win at Martin Luther College Wednesday night at the Luther Student Center. The Scots, who won by scores of 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20, improve to 1-3 on the season. The Knights fall to 2-3.

In the first set, Macalester held a narrow 19-18 lead before tallying the next four points, including a kill by junior Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie), for a 23-18 edge. After Martin Luther scored the next two points, the Scots closed out the set with a kill from first year Sydney Stratton (North Liberty, Iowa/Liberty) and a Knights' attack error to win, 25-20. Macalester trailed for most of the second set but came back to tie the score at 23-23, only to surrender the final two points to fall, 25-23. Preston and sophomore Avery Rahe (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West) had four kills apiece in the set.

In the third set, Martin Luther built an 8-2 advantage before the Scots responded by scoring the next nine points for an 11-8 lead. The Knights came within one point four times, but Macalester closed out the win with a service ace from Preston. Needing one more set to claim victory, the Scots led by as many as 10 points and held a 20-10 lead in the fourth set. Martin Luther battled back and came within three points with a 9-2 run that made the score 22-19. Back-to-back kills from junior Stephanie Geber (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) and Rahe, and a kill by Preston on match point, gave Macalester a 25-20 win in the fourth set.

Preston registered 13 kills and five service aces to pace the offense. Rahe and Stratton each contributed eight kills, while first year setter Hannah Morrow (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) notched 30 assists. Defensively, sophomore Sarah Bohrer (Minneapolis, Minn./Edina) led the way with 10 digs, with Morrow and junior Jill MacInnis (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) tallying nine digs apiece. Grace Kisselhorst led Martin Luther with 13 kills.

The Scots host the Macalester Invitational this weekend, Sept. 8-9 in the Leonard Center. Macalester's first match is Friday at 6:00 p.m. against Buena Vista.

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