NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Olivia Powell (Sr./Palos Verdes, Calif./Chadwick) and Abby Loe (Jr./Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) tallied eight kills each, but the Carleton volleyball team was unable to overcome a strong hitting performance from St. Catherine University, as the Knights dropped a three-set match (25-19, 25-23, 25-17) Wednesday evening at West Gym.

St. Kates (11-8, 1-4 MIAC) hit .303 for the match, compared to a .147 hitting percentage for the Knights.

Carleton fell behind early in the opening set, but a late three-point scoring run capped off by a Jancyn Appel (Fy./Kansas City, Mo./Pembroke Hill) kill pulled the Knights to within two at 19-17. Carleton would get no closer however as the Wildcats strung together two separate scoring runs to eventually earn a 25-19 win and early match lead.

The second set featured more nip and tuck scoring between the two teams. St. Kates appeared poised to pull away again late, taking a 23-20 lead late in the set, before Carleton rallied to tie the score at 23-23 behind kills from Powell and Inger Shelton (So./San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) sandwiched between a Wildcat attack error. Carleton would get no closer however as St. Kates won the ensuing two points to close out the set 25-23.

St. Kates took set three 25-17 to earn the match victory.

Grace Leuchtenberger (Jr./Newton, Mass./Newton South) added six kills and hit a team-best .385, while Appel chipped in with four kills.  

Loe led the Knights with 12 digs, while Celeste Chen (Sr./Yorba Linda, Calif./Valencia) and Alexis Bowland Fy./Huntersville, N.C./North Mecklenburg) chipped in with seven digs each. Loe also added a team-high four aces in the match.

Emma Nelson (Sr./Byron, Minn.) led the Wildcats with 13 kills and a .281 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: Carleton returns to West Gym Oct. 12 with a non-conference match against The University of Wisconsin-River Falls at 1:00 p.m.