ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Carleton volleyball team fell to Hamline University in a five-set thriller Friday night. The loss leaves the Knights with an overall record of 5-15 (1-8 MIAC), while Hamline improves to 5-19 (2-6 MIAC). 
 
Carleton came out strong in the first set, scoring the first three points of the match and racing out to a 6-2 lead in the early going. The Pipers were able to get on the board, but the Knights stayed strong, finding pushing their lead to nine points (15-6) midway through the set. Hamline responded with a pair of 4-1 runs midway through the frame to pull within five points (19-14), but two consecutive kills from Annelise Sokolow (Jr./Draper, Utah/Juan Diego Catholic) shifted things back in favor of the Knights. The kills gave Carleton a 21-14 lead and sparked a 6-0 run, capped off by a final kill from Sokolow that gave them the set 25-14.  
 
In the second set, Hamline opened things up with a 3-0 lead, but a kill from Catie Marvin (Jr./Wilmington, Del./The Tatnall School) put the Knights on the board (3-1). Carleton eventually came back to even the score 5-5, but Hamline strung together back-to-back points to go ahead yet again (7-5). Tied 11-11 later in the set, a well-placed tip over the net from Isabel Macia (Fy./Coral Gables, Fla./Divine Savior Academy) gave Carleton its first lead in the frame (12-11). The Knights were then able to put on the pressure and use a 6-2 run to carve their way to a 18-13 lead. However, Hamline wouldn't go away. A 6-0 run from the Pipers gave them the lead back heading to the home stretch of the second. But for the second time in the match, Sokolow strung together two consecutive kills to bring Carleton back in it. The back-to-back points sparked a 7-2 run to end the second set as the Knights were able to hold on again to take the set 25-21 and a 2-0 lead in the match. 
 
In the third set, the scoreboard saw a continuation of the back and forth from the previous set. The two teams traded three-point runs back-and-forth out to a 7-6 Knight lead in the early going. With Carleton leading 11-10, Hamline put together a 10-1 run that boosted the Pipers to a 20-12 lead. After that, the Knights couldn't quite get their footing, and Hamline stayed strong to take the set 25-16 and extend the match. 
 
Hamline continued to ride the momentum in the fourth set, coming out to a strong lead of 4-1 right off the bat. The Pipers remained ahead by a significant margin, leading 8-2, then later 12-4, despite good efforts from the Knights to stay in it. Midway through the set, Hamline still had a 17-7 advantage, before kills from Jancyn Appel (Sr./Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) and Kerrigan Candra (So./Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central) lessened the deficit (17-9), but Hamline kept on its roll, eventually winning the set 25-16 and evening the match at two sets apiece. 
 
In the fifth and final set, the Pipers maintained pace, going up 5-0 in the abbreviated set to fifteen. A service ace from Sylvia Dixon (Fy./Vienna, Va./James Madison) and a kill from Appel, plus a great block from Appel and Macia made it 5-4 Hamline. However, a 7-1 run shifted the momentum back in favor of the Pipers, making it 12-5 for the opposition. But Carleton responded with five straight points to come roaring back. Kills from Marvin and Candra, and lastly Sokolow brought them within two late (13-11). However, consecutive Piper kills allowed Hamline to take the set 15-11, and the match 3-2. 
 
The Knights were led by a pair of double-doubles from Annelise Sokolow and Kerrigan Candra. Sokolow tallied 16 kills along with 10 digs, while Candra collected 10 kills and a team-high 13 digs. Jancyn Appel also had a great night, with 11 kills, five digs and two blocks. Additionally, Catie Marvin tallied eight kills on the evening, while Isabel Macia put up 45 assists and Kailey Smith (Sr./Racine, Wis./Dunlap) added 12 digs. 
 
Upcoming for the Knights
The Knights will again hit the road to face Augsburg University on Wednesday, October 26th. They return home to take on Northfield rival, St. Olaf College, on Saturday, October 29th for their final match of the regular season.