PELLA, Iowa – The Macalester College volleyball team began the 2025 campaign at the Central/Grinnell Tournament, facing Simpson and Central on Friday at Central. The Scots lost to Simpson, 3-0 and battled the host Dutch before falling, 3-1 in the late match.

In the first set against Simpson, Macalester trailed 20-19 following a kill by senior Avery Rahe (Olathe, Kan./Olathe), only to have the Storm tally five of the final six points to win, 25-20. Rahe had four kills in the set. Again the Scots were close late in set 2 after a kill by junior MiLani Terrell (Cypress, Texas/Tomball Memorial) made the score 20-18. But Simpson notched the last five points for the win. The Storm closed out the match with a 25-13 win in the third set.

Rahe led the Scots with six kills, while Terrell added five kills. Rahe and junior Alia Sherrow (Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor School) each had two blocks, while first year Kailee Banta (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) notched seven digs.

Against Central, Macalester dominated the first set, winning 25-13 to take an early lead. Rahe led the way with three kills in the set. The second set went down to the wire, with the Dutch breaking a 22-22 tie by scoring three of the last four points to tie the match at one set apiece. The Scots had opportunities to take control of either of the final two sets, but Central proved too much to overcome on its home court in 25-20 and 25-19 wins.

Terrell registered a team-best eight kills to go with five digs, while Rahe added seven kills and sophomore Hannah Eisenman (Cary, N.C./Green Level) put away six kills without an error in her best match as a Scot. Sophomore Greta Seppanen (St. Paul, Minn./Como Park) also had a strong match with a team-high 19 digs. Junior Hannah Morrow (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) dished out 14 assists, with sophomore Camilia Jones (Orlando, Fla.) contributing eight assists and 11 digs.

The Scots will face Cornell College at 1:00 p.m. and Grinnell at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Grinnell.