Alma, Mich. - Alma played their second of two matches on Friday (Sept. 25) as they fell to Heidelberg University, 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 28-26, 26-24) at the Art Smith Arena. The Scots are now 5-9 overall and 2-3 in MIAA play, while Heidelberg improved to 11-4 on their season. 

In the first set, Heidelberg hit .308, notching 16 kills only four errors on 39 total attemps to take the 25-18 victory. A kill from junior Sasha Laykova (Ternopil, Ukraine/Forest Hills Northern) put the Scots in striking range but a 7-1 run for Heidelberg sealed the first set.

Alma took the second set, 25-23 as they recorded a team high hitting percentage on the day of .237 as well as a team low of only five errors. Alma took the early lead in the set and Heidelberg fought back to close the gap 22-23 but two consecutive kills from senior Hannah Guilford (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) and senior Maggie Miller (Frankfort, Mich./Frankfort) sealed the second set victory for Alma. 

Set three saw Alma play evenly with Heidelberg. Three Alma kills by sophomore Dakota Pelach (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord), Laykova and Miller gave the Scots the 26-23 lead but Heidelberg fought back with kills of their own to take set three 28-26.

In the final set Alma held the lead by a margin of seven points at 20-13 but a 11-3 run for Heidelberg quickly closed the gap tying the game 24-24. An Alma attacking error and a Heidelberg kill finished the evening for the Scots, 26-24.

Guilford ended the night with a double double, 12 kills and 13 digs while Pelach and Miller both notched 12 kills on the night. Laykova also posted a double double with 10 kills and team high 18 digs. Junior Maressa Miller (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) had a career high of 30 assists for the Scots.

Alma will be back in action tomorrow (Sept. 26) traveling down to Trine University in Angola, Ind. to continue conference play for a 2:00 p.m. start time.

QUOTES

Head Coach Sarah Dehring

on the evening... 

"We still need to find a leader. Someone that will take charge and lead this group of talented young women. When the pressure is on we need someone who will step up. Once we find that person others will follow."