La CROSSE, Wis. – The Macalester College volleyball team played the first of three matches at the UW-La Crosse Tournament on Friday at Mitchell Hall. The Scots (7-4) lost to Monmouth College in a tough four-set battle, 25-21, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21.

In the first set, Macalester trailed by as many as 10 points before rallying to cut the deficit to four. The Scots staved off set point twice before eventually losing, 25-21. Senior right side Grace Galer (Hanover Park, Ill./Schaumburg) had four kills in the first set. After Macalester dropped the second set by the same score of 25-21 despite four kills from junior right side Avery Rahe (Olathe, Kan./Olathe), the Scots never trailed in the third set en route to a 25-22 win. Rahe again had four kills in the set, while sophomore middle blocker Sydney Stratton (North Liberty, Iowa/Liberty) added three blocks.

The fourth set remained close throughout, with Macalester tying the score at 20-20 on back-to-back kills by senior outside hitter Adisa Preston (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie). After two straight points for Monmouth, another kill by Preston made the score 22-21. Monmouth managed to tally the final three points to take the set, 25-21 and win the match.

Preston registered six kills in the fourth set to finish with a team-best 13 kills. Rahe had 12 kills and one hitting error in 31 attempts for a .355 hitting percentage, while sophomore outside hitter MiLani Terrell (Cypress, Texas/Tomball Memorial) added six kills. Senior setter Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) delivered 27 assists, with senior libero Torrance Williams (Houston, Texas/Yes Prep Northbrook) pacing the defense with 20 digs.

Macalester plays Luther at 11:00 a.m. and Bethany Lutheran at 3:00 p.m. on Day 2 of the UW-La Crosse Tournament.