ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team used a number of big individual performances Wednesday to claim a 3-1 victory, 23-25, 25-15, 25-19, 26-24, at Macalester College in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action. The Gusties improve to 15-4 overall and 6-1 in the MIAC, while the Scots fall to 8-12 overall and 1-6 in the league.
Nora Holtan (So., Rochester, Minn.) and Brittany Luethmers (So., Prior Lake, Minn.) both had career-highs in their respective specialties. Holtan directed the offense with a career-high 60 assists, while Luethmers finished with a career-best 37 digs. Holtan’s favorite targets were Hanna Albers (So., St. Louis, Mo.), Taylor Trautman (Sr., Hutchinson, Minn.) and Lauren Hanson (So., Redwood Falls, Minn.) with 18, 17, and 14 kills, respectively. Albers added 20 digs for her 10th double-double this season.
“Macalester played really scrappy and smart on offense,” Head Coach Rachelle Sherden said. “There were a lot of long rallies. Our team battled and Traut and Hanna were very aggressive and smart on offense. Brittany dug probably 90 percent of the balls hit her way.”
Gustavus started the first set with 7-3 lead after the first 10 volleys. Macalester answered with a 12-5 run to gain a two-point advantage at 15-13. The Gusties regained the lead at 16-15, but the Scots responded with 4-1 run and held off a late rally by the Gusties to steal the opening frame 25-23.
The two squads traded points early in the second set until the Gusties pulled away midway through the set with a 5-1 run to take a 20-12 lead and held on for a 10-point victory.
The third set started out similar to the second with both teams trading points early on and staying within three points of each other until the Gusties rattled off four straight points to gain a 14-8 lead. Macalester couldn’t recover from the deficit and the Gusties won by six points.
Again, the fourth set started off tight with seven ties and two lead changes, resulting in a 14-13 lead for the Gusties. The Black and Gold maintained the advantage until the Scots rallied for five straight points to take the lead 21-20. The would be three more ties and one lead change, bringing the game to 24-24, but two emphatic kills from Albers sealed the set and the match for the Gusties.
Gustavus travels to UW-Eau Claire this weekend for a tournament where it will compete in four matches.