Bluffton, Ohio - The Alma College Volleyball team traveled down to Bluffton University in Ohio to partake in the Bluffton Spiketacular Tournament. The Scots dropped both contests on the evening, falling to Augustana College in a thrilling five set series 3-2 (25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 15-25, 8-15) before being defeated by Heidelberg University 4-1 (25-19, 13-25, 16-25, 20-25).

Match One: Augustana College

Augustana would take the first two points of the game but a kill from So. Dakota Pelach (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord) gave the Scots their first point of the game.

The Scots were down 4-5 but a kill from Jr. Kendall Sells (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores) tied the game and Alma never looked back as they took set one 25-19. Alma finished game one with 13 kills and only allowed themselves two errors.

Game two Alma found themselves behind 10-14. A block assist from Sr. Maggie Miller (Frankfort, Mich./Frankfort) and Sr. Hannah Guilford (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) cut the deficit 10-13, but the Scots could not bounce back and lost game two 25-20.

Alma found themselves down in the third match 0-3, but a kill from Pelach gave them their first score of the match. The Scots trailed the entire match but fought back from their defecit to tie the game three more times. Two consecutive kills from Jr. Madison Smith (Westphalia, Mich./Pewamo-Westphalia then Sr. Hannah Guilford (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) sealed the lead and the game as the Scots won set three 25-23.

Alma saw the first point of set four but Augustana went on a four point tear and never looked back. The Vikings would take set four from the Scots 14-25. 

Again, the Vikings took the early lead in the fifth and final set 0-3. A Viking service error gave the Scots their first point of set five. The Vikings stretched the lead 3-8 and a kill from Jr. Jackie Vyskocil (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) gave the Scots hope with a 4-8 deficit. The Scots were unable to recover dropping set five 8-15 and the match 3-2.

"We started off slow in the first game of the night," remarked Head Coach Sarah Dehring. "It was up and down the entire way, the girls fought hard, we just came up short in the end."

Match Two: Heidelberg University

Alma also fell in game two on the evening to Heidelberg University in four sets. The Scots managed to take the first set of the game 25-19 but fell short in the final three.

Pelach led the team with 11 kills on 34 total attempts. Pelach tied her career high record of 11 kills for the third time in her two year career thus far. Guilford with 10 kills and So. Sasha Laykova (Ternopil, Ukraine/Forest Hills Northern) with eight followed behind Pelach.

Jr. Molly Lark (Middleville, Mich./Thornapple-Kellogg) led the team in digs for a total of 15. She was followed by Guilford with 11 and Pelach with 10.

The Scots lost the final three sets of the night, 13-25, 16-25 and 20-25. 

Alma is now 0-2 on the season but are looking to improve tomorrow as they take on DePauw University at 10:00 a.m. and Ohio Northern at 12:00 p.m. in the Bluffton Spiketacular tournament at the Sommer Center. 

Contact: Grace Wheeler (wheelergl@alma.edu)