The 2004 volleyball team is the fifth team in program history to be enshrined in the Alma College Athletic Hall of Fame. The ‘04 Scots join the 2003 team from the class of 2024, as well as the ‘82, ‘83, and ‘84 squads.
Alma’s 2004 team was dominant from day one, finishing with a record of 34 wins to just two losses, completing a perfect regular season. Posting an unblemished 16-0 MIAA record, the Scots were the first league champ to go unbeaten since the 1997 Hope Flying Dutch. Alma finished ahead of Calvin at 14-2, and Kalamazoo at 11-5.
Such was the dominance of the Alma team, that seven different players notched a triple-double during the season. Lindsay Baker racked up 1,573 assists, and a team high 47 aces on the season. Kristin Judson led the Scots attackers with 495 kills, alongside Erin Fralick who tallied 403, and Caitlin Deis with 359. The Scots excelled at the service line. Baker led the team with 47 aces, Kelsee Krull added 41, and Deis collected 39.
Alma’s defense was led by the Judson sisters Kristin and Kerri, who totaled exactly 1,000 combined digs on the season. Krull managed 414 digs, and Deis 375. Battles at the net were dominated by Fralick, who totaled 39 solo blocks, and 121 assisted blocks.
Baker was named MIAA MVP for the second straight season, and was joined on the All-MIAA first team by Fralick and Kristin Judson. Kerri Judson and Kelly O’Connor were named to the second team.
In a perfect regular season, the Scots went 31-0, outscoring opponents 93-9 in set victories. Alma swept the opposition 23 times, only allowing one game to go five sets, against Kalamazoo College.
Entering the MIAA tournament as the top seed, Alma dispatched eighth-seeded Olivet in the first round 30-18, 30-24, 30-6. In the semifinal, the hosts defeated fifth-seeded Hope in five sets by scores of 38-40, 30-17, 30-23, 21-30, 15-10. In the title game, Calvin handed the Scots their first loss of the season in four close sets.Â
Alma headed to the NCAA tournament, defeating Benedictine (IL) 30-20, 30-25, 30-26. The Scots season concluded with a narrow defeat to Wittenberg in the second round.
