Sandusky, OH – Alma College Volleyball opened their 2025 season on Friday in Ohio, taking home a pair of wins over Washington & Jefferson and Oberlin College.
 
Alma 3, Washington and Jefferson 2
In the opening points of the game, it was W&J who held the early advantage. The Scots were stuck playing catch up for much of the set, but were unable to take a lead until midway through, when Alma eeked out a one-point lead at 14-13. A pair of three-point runs from Wash & Jeff saw the Scots drop the opener 25-22. In the second set, Alma jumped out to a 4-0 lead, increasing the margin to 10-5 as the set progressed. However, WJC embarked on a 14-5 run, taking a lead at 19-15 before Alma could stop it. Alma lost the set 25-20.

In the third, it was Alma's turn to use a run to create separation. Tied at 9-9, Alma used a five point run to establish a gap, only for WJC to catch up as things got late. Alma was able to fend off the opposition once W&J made it to game point at 24-23. The Scots ripped off three straight points to take the set, and stay alive, 26-24. With the offense now clicking, Alma peeled out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set, increasing the margin to 13-7, and then 19-12. Despite a late surge from their opponents, the Scots pushed the game to a fifth set, 25-20.

The decisive final set didn't get off to a hot start, with W&J jumping on Alma to the tune of a 7-2 lead. However, Alma wasn't going away. The Scots capitalized on a service error, collecting a quick four point run to get back into things at 7-6. The teams swung the momentum back and forth, with nobody ceding clear momentum and control. Finally, WJC had game point at 14-13. A Madison Munley block, followed by an Emily Carling ace ripped the game point away, and a Natalie Dutton kill sealed the reverse sweep, 16-14.

Carling and Rachel McGlothin led the way with 14 kills apiece in the win. Dutton added nine, and Munley and Allie Fish had eight. Olivia Deeb tallied 21 assists in the win, with Vicky Villarosa adding 18, and Rudy Maynard nine. Carling totaled five aces in the W.

Defensively, Grace Steiner collected 26 digs, and Villarosa recorded 12. Maggie McKale led the net battle with four blocks, all assisted. Munley's game-changing solo block was in addition to the three assisted that she had in the game as well.
 
Alma 3, Oberlin 0
In game two, Oberlin jumped all over Alma, getting out to a 7-1 lead early on in the opening set. The Scots put together a four-point run, before some back-and-forth action saw the Yeowomen lead cut to two at 14-12. The teams traded three-point swings, but the Scots couldn't get inside the margin of two, trailing 23-19 late. Alma pulled off a 6-1 run to put the set on the edge, before Oberlin was able to halt the run. After some point trading, Alma capitalized on a Yeowomen service error, and McGlothin ended the set 28-26 in favor of the Scots.

The second set featured more neck-and-neck action, with the teams unable to gain any separation from one another. That was until a six-point run from the Scots gave them a 16-11 lead, which Oberlin was unable to shrink, as Alma closed the set on another five-point run at 25-15.

In set three it was another long Alma run that swung momentum decisively. A mid-set 12-2 run saw the Scots ahead by seven before Oberlin could stop them. Despite a small surge from the Yeowomen, the Scots pulled away comfortably to a game-ending 25-18 set win.

Carling led the way with nine kills, with Dutton, Fish, and McGlothin all contributing five. Villarosa led with 16 assists, and Deeb added 11. From the service line, Munley landed four aces, and Steiner, Carling, and McGlothin each added three more. Steiner recorded a team high 17 digs.

Alma gets off to a 2-0 start, and is back in action with two more games tomorrow in Sandusky.