On Halloween 2014, the Alma College Volleyball team hosted Kalamazoo College at Art Smith Arena in a "win and make the playoffs" scenario. Unfortunately it wasn't that easy as the Scots dropped a 3-1 decision to the Hornets (25-18, 24-26, 19-25, 19-25). However, with Saint Mary's losing to Hope College, the Scots advanced to the MIAA playoffs that begin against the Flying Dutch next Friday evening.

The Scots return to the MIAA playoffs after a one-year absence and will look to keep their season going with a win next weekend. They will play in Holland next Friday evening with start time scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

With tonight's loss, the Scots finished the regular season with a 8-8 mark in the MIAA and 15-17 overall, while the Hornets concluded their season with a final overall mark of 11-17 and 6-10 in the league.

"I thought Kalamazoo played very well against us for the second time this season," said Alma Head Coach Sarah Dehring. "Unfortunately, I thought we made too many unforced errors at critical times in the match and you just can't let that happen. Next week in the playoffs, I just want us to go out and let it go and have fun. We have no pressure on us and we aren't going to be the favorite. So, why not go down there and enjoy ourselves."

The first set competitive from the first point in front of a vocal, costume clad crowd at "The Art". The two teams were tied six times, the last being at 6-6, before the Scots took control. An 11-1 run put the home team ahead by a score of 17-7 before Kzoo could respond. The Hornets scored the next six points but the Scots were able to stem the tide and eventually pull out the 25-18 victory.

In the second set, Kalamazoo jumped out to a 6-0 lead and it looked as though they would run away with it. However, Alma scored six of the next seven points to cut the deficit to one. Later in the frame, Kalamazoo led 19-12 and still had the 22-17 advantage before the Scots fought back again. Alma scored the next five to tie it at 22-22 and then led 24-23 after a kill by So. OH/DS Sasha Laykova (Ternopil, Ukraine/Forest Hills Northern). However, the Hornets would persevere by scoring the next three to earn the 26-24 victory.

Alma scored the first three points of the third set and still led 11-9 before Kzoo starting to warm up. The visitors scored five in a row to lead 14-11 and had a narrow margin advantage of 17-16 later in the set. Five more in a row by the Hornets gave them a 22-16 lead and the were able to play even from there, winning 25-19.

With their backs against the wall, Alma jumped out to a 5-1 lead early in the fourth set and appeared to be on their way to tying the match. However, the set would prove to be tight all the way through, with the Hornets eventually ahead 14-13. Kzoo pushed ahead by four but the Scots narrowed their deficit to 19-17 before the visitors made their final move towards the win. The Hornets outscored Alma 6-2 to earn the 25-19 set win and the 3-1 match victory.

Jr. OH/DS Hannah Guilford (Hartland/Hartland) had a team-high 11 kills for the Scots, while Laykova had nine and So. RS/OH Kendall Sells (Muskegon/Mona Shores) added eight. So. S Mary Dulzo (Novi/Mercy) added to her team-leading senior totals in assists with 31 more tonight.

As a team, the Scots had 82 digs on the night, with Guilford and So. DS/L Molly Lark (Middleville/Thornapple-Kellogg) each having a team-high 21 a piece. So. OH/DS Maressa Miller (Grand Blanc/Grand Blanc) added 13 digs in the defeat.