Albion Falls to Kalamazoo in Four Sets

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

ALBION, Mich. – Albion College took advantage of three service and 10 hitting errors to take the third set from Kalamazoo College, but it committed too many errors of its own in a four-set loss to the Hornets in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association volleyball action. Albion gave up a set’s worth of points – 10 service errors, 10 reception errors, and five ball handing errors – in the 10-25, 21-25, 25-20, 11-25 loss.

Kalamazoo scored 11 of the first 13 points and it cruised to the victory in the first set.

Kalamazoo jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the second set, but Albion trimmed the deficit to 9-7 as the Hornets gave away a couple of points on errors and Caitlin Wright (Hessel) delivered a service ace. Kalamazoo scored the next two points and it lead by at least three the rest of the set.

Albion rallied from deficits of 6-2 and 9-4 in the third set. A Kalamazoo service error turned gave Albion a side out at 9-5 and Caitlin McClorey (Wixom/Ladywood) served three points as the Britons pulled to 9-8. A block by Wright and Jalyn Ingalls (Ellsworth) was one of the key points in the rally.

Ingalls’ ace tied the third set at 10 and she served as Kalamazoo mishandled a set and committed an attack error as Albion pulled in front at 12-10. A Wright kill tacked on another point. Albion extended the margin to 24-19 on a kill by Ingalls.

Alex Gothard’s service ace, a block error, and attack errors on consecutive points put Kalamazoo in control of the fourth set.

Wright finished the night with eight kills and a block assist for the Britons.

Albion continues MIAA play at home at 6:30 p.m. Friday when it takes the Kresge Gymnasium court against defending NCAA Division III national champion Calvin College.