Alma's Volleyball team had a tough task on Saturday, as they took on #13 Calvin College in an MIAA match that was intense from the get go. The Knights needed everything they had to defeat the Scots 3-2 (17-25, 25-15, 25-23, 24-26, 18-16) at a raucous Cappaert Gymnasium. Alma is now 9-5 in MIAA play and 15-11 overall, while Calvin improved to 12-1 in the league and 20-5 on the 2009 season.

On a day where the Alma Volleyball family celebrated the four years of play by Senior Kelsey Thompson (Morley, MI/Morley-Stanwood), the Scots played a match that epitomizes the progress that this program has made during her collegiate career.

The Scots took game one by a score of 25-17, only to have the Knights tie it up after a 25-15 decision in game two. From that point on, the games were close and intense and went down to the wire. Alma survived a 25-23 game three, only to have Calvin scratch back with a 26-24 win in the fourth game, forcing the deciding fifth game.

As you would expect a team the caliber of Calvin to do, the visitors came out hard and fast in the fifth game and put the home team on the ropes.  Trailing 14-9, the Scots did not quit and came back to tie the game at 14-14. Calvin had match point three more times, but Alma answered every time, until at 17-16, the Knights finally put away the pesky Scots and went home with the 18-16 fifth game victory.

The Scots, having secured a third place finish in the MIAA regular season standings, now close out with two road games. Alma travels to Trine University on Wednesday, and then will finish the regular season with a match at Adrian College next Friday evening.