Notre Dame, IN - Alma College Volleyball was on the road on Tuesday night, taking on Saint Mary's College in their MIAA opener. The Scots won 3-0 to get conference play started on a high note.

Although the final score read 3-0 in favor of Alma, the 12-2 Belles were no pushover, with the teams battling through three competitive sets. Alma took the first set 25-20, winning tightly contested battle. The set saw SMC rally from an early 10-6 Alma lead to keep things close, and neither team was able to eek out a sizable lead until the Scots gained some separation at 22-19 with a five-point run. The second set was much of the same. The teams remained deadlocked for much of the second stanza, with the tie lasting until the 15-15 mark. The Scots used an 8-2 push to work out a 23-18 lead, and a furious Belles comeback was fended off, with Alma winning 25-22. In set three, Alma jumped out to an early 9-3 advantage. SMC battled back to an 11-11 tie. The Scots regained the lead immediately, this time for good, and held a three-point lead until the waning moments of the game. The Belles closed to wihin one, but Alma held off the final effort to win 25-23.

Maggie McKale led the offense for Alma with 11 kills. Natalie Dutton had nine, and Emily Carling had seven along with a pair of aces. Olivia Deeb had 19 assists, and Rudy Maynard recorded 14.

Defensively, Katelyn Schell was a force at the net, with a game-high three blocks in the win. Grace Steiner led with a game-high 14 digs, followed by Makenna Johnson with 12, and Deeb with seven.

Alma moves to 8-9, and gets off to a 1-0 start in MIAA play. Saint Mary's drops to 12-3, and 0-1 in the MIAA.

The Scots are back in action on Friday evening when they host Adrian College. The Bulldogs fell to The University of Olivet in their MIAA opener tonight.