ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team earned an important MIAC victory over Hamline University in four sets Friday evening in the Leonard Center. The Scots, who won by scores of 25-17, 25-19, 19-25, 25-22, remain alive in the MIAC Playoff picture with a 4-5 record in conference play (12-14 overall). The Pipers fall to 8-17, 1-8 MIAC.

In the first set, Macalester put away 14 kills with only two attack errors to cruise to a 25-17 win. Junior right side Avery Rahe (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West) led the way with five kills in the set. The Scots built a 21-13 advantage in the second set but had to hold off a charge by Hamline to win, 25-19. Seniors Stephanie Geber (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) and Grace Galer (Hanover Park, Ill./Schaumburg) tallied the final two kills to secure the win.

The Pipers took control of the third set with a 10-1 run that made the score 15-6 en route to a 25-19 win. Rahe had four kills in the set. In the fourth set, Macalester trailed by as many as five points, 10-5 before rallying with seven of the next eight points for a 12-11 edge. The set was tied at 17-17 when the Scots notched the next two points and never trailed again, taking the set and the match, 25-22. Preston and Rahe each had three kills in the final set.

Rahe registered a team-high 14 kills and a .343 hitting percentage, while senior outside hitter Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) turned in an excellent all-around performance with 10 kills, four service aces and a team-best 24 digs. Geber contributed nine kills and a .364 hitting percentage while adding three blocks. Senior Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) and sophomore Hannah Morrow (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) split the setting duties, with Norton dishing out 23 assists and Morrow delivering 16 assists. Norton surpassed 1,500 career assists in the match and now has 1,515 assists. Defensively, senior libero Torrance Williams (Houston, Texas/Yes Prep Northbrook) had 21 digs, junior defensive specialist Sarah Bohrer (Minneapolis, Minn./Edina) recorded 16 digs and sophomore middle blocker Sydney Stratton (North Liberty, Iowa/Liberty) added four blocks. Grace Bathurst led Hamline with 15 kills.

The victory also ends a 13-match losing streak to the Pipers, who hadn't lost to the Scots since 2010.

The win keeps Macalester in seventh place, one game behind St. Olaf. The Scots need a win against Augsburg in the final home match of the season on Saturday, Nov. 2 to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth. The match begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.