Volleyball team comes up short against Alma

ALMA, Mich. – The Olivet College volleyball team let a two sets to none lead slip away, as Alma College rallied past the Comets in five sets tonight at the Art Smith Arena in Alma. Olivet won the first two sets 25-23 and 27-25 before the Scots rallied to win the next three sets 25-13, 25-16 and 15-9.

Alma led the opening set 23-22 but Olivet scored the last three points to win it, 25-23. The second set was similar to the first, with the Scots holding a 23-22 lead. The Comets fought back and had two set points before winning the third set point for a 27-25 win. Alma led almost the entire third set and never trailed in the fourth and fifth sets.

Olivet had 31 total kills and hit .293 in the first two sets before combining for only 19 kills and .000 attacking percentage over the final three sets. Junior Emma Brann (Ann Arbor/Pioneer) finished with a team-leading 16 kills, while senior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) and sophomore Marissa Guile (Williamston) had 12 and 11 kills, respectively.

Junior Taylor Pringle (Haslett) dished out 25 set assists. Junior Megan VanderVlucht (McBain) and senior Tina Westendorp (Nashville/Maple Valley) each recorded 14 digs. Westendorp also served two aces.

Olivet will travel to Oberlin (Ohio) College for its final two matches of the 2013 season Saturday afternoon. The Comets will play Denison (Ohio) University at noon, followed by a match against the host Yeowomen.

NOTES: The Comets have played 11 matches this season, which have gone the maximum five sets. Seven of those matches were against MIAA opponents, including twice against Alma. Olivet has a 4-7 record in those five-set matches, with a 3-4 record in MIAA play.