SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team will return to Gus Young Court Wednesday when they host Macalester at 7 p.m. for Senior Night. The Gusties enter the contest 12-14 overall and 5-4 in the MIAC while the Scots enter 4-19 overall and 0-9 in the conference.
The Series: Wednesday’s matchup marks the 63rd all-time meeting between the Macalester and Gustavus volleyball programs with the Gusties holding a 45-16-1 advantage. The two teams met last season on Sept. 27 in St. Paul where the Gusties took a 3-0 victory. The Black and Gold have won the previous 14 contests in the series, with the Scots last win coming on Oct. 1, 2004.
Scouting the Gusties: Gustavus is most recently coming off a 3-1 loss to Saint Benedict Saturday. Through 26 matches Kate Holtan leads the team and conference with 355 kills for an average of 3.70 per set. First-years Sarah Elliott and Rhyan Herrmann have both been strong on the attack this season as well with 199 and 198 kills, respectively. Mitaya Johnson and Nora Lehmkuhl have split the setting duties of late, with Johnson averaging 4.97 assists per set and Lehmkuhl 5.74. Hailey Embacher has been the team leader in the back row with 501 digs, which is the fourth most in the MIAC. As a team, Gustavus has been strong on the serve this season, averaging 1.83 service aces per set, which is second-best in the conference, while they have the third fewest reception errors in the league with 97.
Scouting the Scots: Macalester comes into the contest most recently falling to St. Olaf 3-1 Saturday. Eliza King leads the Scots through 23 matches, totaling 198 kills, while Zoe Lowe has been solid as well with 161. Claire Loomans has been the teams primary setter, notching 496 assists for an average of 6.79 per set, while Katrina Schoen leads the Scot defense with 390 digs. A weakness for Macalester this season has been their attack numbers, as they rank last in the MIAC in kills per set (8.72) and hitting percentage (.069).