The #3 seeded Alma College Volleyball team took on #2 Hope College on Friday evening in an MIAA Semi-Final match-up at host #1 Calvin College. The Scots dropped a 3-1 decision to the Flying Dutch (13-25, 25-23, 16-25, 14-25), ending the 2011 campaign with a final mark of 19-9.

"I thought we came out really flat and tentative in the first set, but we followed that up with a very good second set to get a win," said Alma Head Coach Sarah Dehring. "But, we could not take advantage of that momentum and in the end, their runs really hurt us. We had a good season and we just need to keep moving forward - we are right there and just need to learn how to finish." 

Hope came out strong in the first set and came away with the 25-13 victory, before Alma fought back in the second set. The Scots came away with a hard-fought 25-23 win to even the match to 1-1. After a early lead for Alma in the third set, Hope took control, winning 26-16. They then closed out the four-set victory with a 25-14 decision.

In the loss to the Flying Dutch, the Scots were led in kills by Sr. MH Shelby Gray (Orchard Lake, Mich./West Bloomfield), who had eight. She was followed by So. MH Rebecca Trosper (Sterling Heights, Mich./Lutheran Northern) and So. OH Kelly Maise (Northville, Mich./Northville), who each had five. 

Jr. OH Kelsee Miles (Hanover, Mich./Hanover-Horton) led the team with 24 assists, while Sr. DS Erica Adams (Milford, Mich./Milford) and Jr. OH Katie Bourbonnais (Niles, Mich./Niles) had 13 and 11 digs respectively. In addition, Trosper had four blocking assists to lead the Scots in that category.

Shelby Gray finished her Scots career in the top ten of four statistical categories. She leaves as 4th all-time in kills with 987 and 3rd in attempts with 2,680. In addition she is 7th with 168 block assists and 10th in blocks with 200. Her graduating teammate, Erica Adams leaves the program 10th all-time with 937 digs during her career.

This season, the Alma College Volleyball team had a new coach in Sarah Dehring for 2011, but the Scots continued their success in the MIAA, finishing third in the league for the fourth consecutive season. The team was led by three seniors - Adams, Andria Baker (Constantine, Mich./Constantine) and Gray - that won 76 games during their four years on campus, including 19 this season.

"I came into a good situation in this first season with a lot to work with and I thought the girls and I meshed well together," said Dehring. "I am looking forward to putting in the effort to get us to that next level, which I know we can do."