NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College volleyball team rallied from a set down to defeat Martin Luther College by a 3-1 tally (20-25, 25-16, 25-9, 25-20) on Thursday evening. Abby Loe (Jr./Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) equaled her season-high with a match-best 15 kills, while the Knights accumulated 16 total blocks in the contest, tied for their second-highest figure over the last 15 seasons.
 
The Knights (5-11) hit .223 while holding the visitors to a -.058 clip and have now won four of their last seven matches.
 
First-years Naiya Karl (Fargo, N.D./Fargo South) and Jancyn Appel (Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) played the biggest roles in establishing a brick wall at the net as both rookies figured in nine total blocks, tied for the most by a Knight since Oct. 30, 2012. Senior Olivia Powell (Palos Verdes, Calif./Chadwick) matched her season high with seven block assists.
 
In the opening set, Martin Luther (2-15) held a slight 8-7 lead before the visitors put together a 12-5 run that appeared to put the game out of reach. Carleton tried to close the gap with a five straight points but got no closer in falling, 25-20.
 
The second set was tied 15-15 before a kill by Loe—one of her five in that game—sparked Carleton on a 10-1 rally that leveled the match at a set apiece.
 
The Knights carried the momentum over to third set, during which they hit a blistering .591 and cruised to a 25-9 result. Loe had seven kills and a service ace during the rout.
 
Martin Luther started the fourth set with a 7-1 lead and owned a 16-7 advantage before Carleton closed with a flourish. The Knights finished the game and the match with an 18-4 run, which featured four more blocks.
 
Powell totaled nine kills, while Grace Leuchtenberger (Jr./Newton, Mass./Newton South) chipped in eight of her own.
 
Inger Shelton (So./San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) doled out 29 assists, while Celeste Chen (Sr./Yorba Linda, Calif./Valencia) paced the defense with 15 digs.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: Carleton will visit No. 19-ranked University of St. Thomas for a 5:00 p.m. match on Saturday, Oct. 5.