ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team overcame a slow start to win the final three sets and defeat the College of St. Scholastica, 10-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21 in a MIAC match Thursday night in the Leonard Center. The Scots (11-12) improve to 3-5 in conference play to remain in the hunt for a MIAC Playoff berth. The Saints fall to 11-14 overall, 1-6 in the MIAC.

After dropping the first set, Macalester responded in the second, jumping out to an early 12-7 lead. St. Scholastica came back to take a 16-14 advantage before the Scots scored four straight points to regain the upper hand, 18-16. The teams exchanged the next six points before a block by senior outside hitter Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) and sophomore middle blocker Sydney Stratton (North Liberty, Iowa/Liberty) broke the trend and gave Macalester a 22-19 edge. The Saints tallied the next three points to tie the score at 22-22 and had set point at 24-23, only to have the Scots register the final three points to win, 26-24. Senior setter Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) earned the winning point with a kill.

Trailing 10-9 in the third set, Macalester battled back with a 6-1 run to lead, 15-11. With the lead down to two, 19-17, the Scots closed out the set with six of the next eight points for a 25-19 win. Senior outside hitter Gwen Wooten (Allen, Texas/Allen) registered four kills and senior middle blocker Stephanie Geber (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) had three kills in the set.

With Macalester clinging to a 10-9 lead in the fourth set, the Scots took control of the set with five straight points as a part of a 7-1 run for a 17-10 advantage. Macalester maintained the seven-point lead until it had match point, 24-17. The Saints notched four straight points, but the Scots wouldn't be denied, as a set error gave Macalester a 25-21 win and a 3-1 victory. The defense was stout in the fourth set, with the Scots registering 7.5 total team blocks, including four block assists each for Geber and senior right side Grace Galer (Hanover Park, Ill./Schaumburg).

Geber and Wooten led Macalester with nine kills apiece, as Geber added six blocks. Preston finished with seven kills and 17 digs, while Stratton had five kills without an error. Norton and sophomore Hannah Morrow (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) handled the setting duties and delivered 16 and 12 assists, respectively. Morrow also aided the defense with 11 digs, and senior libero Torrance Williams (Houston, Texas/Yes Prep Northbrook) matched Preston with 17 digs. As a team the Scots had 11.5 total team blocks, with Galer tying Geber with six blocks and Stratton recording five blocks.

Macalester steps out of conference play this Saturday, Oct. 26 for a tri-match at UW-River Falls. The Scots play UW-Whitewater at 5:00 p.m. and the host Falcons at 7:00 p.m.