Alma, Mich. - The Alma College women's volleyball team snapped a four game losing streak on Wednesday evening, sweeping Kalamazoo 3-0 (25-8, 25-15, 25-19).

Alma's offensive attack was spread out as four players had at least five kills in the match. Sasha Laykova (Ternopil, Ukraine/Forest Hills Northern) was the game's leader in kills with 10, Katie Bush (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) and Dakota Pelach (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord) each had six and Anne MacNeil (Brethren, Mich./Brethren) posted five. Bush also registered kills on six her of ten attacks with no errors and MacNeil led with five block assists. Maressa Miller (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) led in assists with 16 followed by Pelach with 10 and Dorothy Buening (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney) led in digs with 10 and aces with five, all of which came in the second set. The Scots were gifted 24 errors by Kalamazoo in the match.

Alma (7-6, 3-5 MIAA) was in complete control of set one. Up 9-7, it went on a huge 16-1 run including an 11-0 run that saw two aces by Miller to take the first set 25-8. The Hornets (3-11, 1-6 MIAA) had 10 errors in the set.

The second set was much of the same. Kalamazoo only earned consecutive points once in the set. Buening posted five aces, including three straight to give the Scots an 11-4 lead. Pelach tallied three kills in the set while Laykova, Sells and MacNeil each had two. Alma took the set 25-15 on a service error by Kennedy Boulton.

The third set was the most competitive - there were nine ties in the set including six before either team reached eight points. Kalamazoo went on a 4-0 run to take a 14-13 lead, but Alma came back with a 4-0 run of their own, followed by three straight points by the Hornets to tie it at 17. The Scots closed the set and the match on an 8-2 run, including picking up the final four points which included two kills from Laykova and a block assist from MacNeil and Kara Muxlow (Brown City, Mich./Brown City).

Alma continues play with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Invitational this weekend. They will play two games against nationally ranked opponents on Friday: No. 19 Wisconsin-La Crosse at 7:00 p.m. and No. 23 Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 9:00 p.m.

Quotes

Head Coach Alex Leja

"We are finding more consistency with our confidence and maintaining unity, which, when we can do so, is when we are most successful. Tonight is a great example of the team enjoying the opportunity to compete and continuing to grow with every touch."

"I was pleased to see the urgency to score points tonight. They stepped up, playing great defense behind our servers, and passing well to allow us to be dynamic offensively."

"We were able to get a few more girls on the court tonight, and that experience is invaluable in creating depth within the program. I am hopeful that we will have more opportunities to do so this weekend."

Contact: Zach Russo, Assistant Sports Information Director, (989) 463-7436