NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Carleton College volleyball team came away with its first MIAC win of the season, prevailing over Concordia College-Moorhead in straight sets on Friday night at West Gym. With the win, the Knights improve their record to 5-13 (1-6 MIAC), while the Cobbers fall to 5-13 overall (2-4 MIAC). 
 
The first set opened up with even play between the two teams, but a kill from Annelise Sokolow (Jr./Draper, Utah/Juan Diego Catholic) put the Knights ahead by one (4-3). From there, Carleton maintained a slight lead until later in the set. Then, ahead 15-13, the Knights went on an 8-1 run to take a commanding 23-14 lead. A pair of Naiya Karl (Sr./Fargo, N.D./South) kills got things rolling, and the Knights never looked back as they took the set 25-16. 
 
In the second set, Carleton had a bit of trouble to start, finding itself facing a five-point deficit (10-5). Three straight points brought the Knights within two (10-8), but they again fell behind 18-13 due to aggressive play by Concordia. However, Carleton dug deep and came back to score five straight points and tie things up at 18-18, thanks to two key service aces from Ella Curtis-Revelle (Fy./Denver, Colo./North) and kills from Kerrigan Candra (So./Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central) and Jancyn Appel (Sr./Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School). Later tied again at 21-21, the Knights scored four of the final five points in the frame to complete the comeback and take the set 25-22. 
 
In the third set, the Knights got off to a strong start, bolting out to a 7-1 lead, but Concordia did not make it easy for them. After the Maize and Blue extended its lead to 11-4, the Cobbers used a 7-1 run to pull within a point (12-11). But Carleton again dug deep, going on a 9-3 run from there to make it 21-14. Candra and Appel each contributed in the spurt, which was finished off with an ace from Talia Marash (So./New York, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day). A final kill from Appel gave the Knights the set 25-22 and closed the match 3-0 in favor of the home team.
 
The Knights were led by great performances from Appel, who racked up 11 kills, and Sokolow, who added 10 kills as well as nine digs. Isabel Macia (Fy./Coral Gables, Fla./Divine Savior Academy) directed the Knight offense with 32 assists, and Kailey Smith (Sr./Racine, Wis./Dunlap) tallied a game-high 17 digs.
 
Up Next for the Knights
The Knights remain at home to wrap up Homecoming Weekend with a 5:00 p.m. contest against College of Saint Benedict on Saturday, Oct. 15. The Knights then hit the road to face Hamline University on Friday, October 21.