NORTHFIELD, Minn.— Jancyn Appel (Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) hit .500 and recorded 10 kills, but the Carleton College volleyball team dropped a three-set match (25-10, 25-20, 25-17) to conference foe Gustavus Adolphus College on Friday evening at West Gym.
 
After dropping the opening set, the Knights rallied in the second and took a 14-13 lead midway through the stanza after a kill from Grace Perret (Fy./Green Bay, Wis./Preble). The Gusties, who are receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top-25 poll, answered by winning four of the next five points to take a 18-15 lead. A kill from Grace de Benedetti (Sr./San Francisco, Calif./University), followed by a block from de Benedetti and Appel pulled the Knights to within one point at 18-17, but Carleton would get no closer as Gustavus would go on to close the set out 25-20.
 
Carleton hung tough in the third set as well, as an ace from setter Inger Shelton (Sr./San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) pulled the Knights within a point at 14-13. After a side-out on the ensuing point, Annelise Sokolow (So./Draper, Utah/Juan Diego Catholic) recorded her fifth kill of the match to once again pull the Knights within a point, this time at 15-14. Carleton could not maintain the momentum however as the Gusties pulled away late to earn a 25-17 win and match victory.
 
Carleton hit .188 for the match compared to .430 for Gustavus. The Knights held a slight advantage in blocks 3-2, but Gustavus held an 11-4 edge in aces.
 
The match marked the fourth time this season that Appel has recorded a double-digit kill total, while hitting over .500. Sokolow added six kills and seven digs in the contest, while de Benedetti posted a .364 hitting percentage with four kills. Shelton paced Carleton with 23 assists, while Kennedy Bombei (Fy./Solon, Iowa) led the Knights with a team high eight digs.
 
Gustavus was paced by Kate Holton, who claimed 17 kills, while hitting .625 in the match. 
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton is scheduled to travel to Decorah, Iowa, for a non-conference match against Luther at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16.