NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Carleton volleyball team fell to Martin Luther College in a thrilling five-set contest on Wednesday night at West Gym. The loss drops the Knights to 1-4 on the season, while Martin Luther improves to an overall record of 4-7.
 
After Martin Luther opened with the first three points of the night, Carleton responded with five straight to take a 5-3 lead. Martin Luther came right back to score the next eight points to take an 11-5 lead in the early going. The lead would stretch to 17-9, and eventually 21-13, but the Knights would not go quietly. The Blue and Gold responded with another run, this time a 7-2 spurt that closed the gap to just three (23-20). However, Martin Luther came back with the final two points to take the opening set 25-20.
 
The Knights returned for the second set with energy, and quickly opened up a 6-2 lead, spurred on by a pair of kills from first-year Sylvia Dixon (Vienna, Va./James Madison). Carleton capitalized on the momentum shift behind its home crowd, stretching the lead to eight points (17-9) and looked to be in control, but Martin Luther responded with a 12-3 run to come all the way back and take a 23-21 lead. Two straight points for the Knights tied the score (23-23) and set up an instant classic of a second set. The two teams traded points down the stretch. Trailing 28-27, Carleton scored the final three points of the set, eventually evening the match at one set apiece with a 30-28 win in the second.
 
Carleton's momentum continued into the third set, where the Knights again saw themselves out to a lead. Trailing 8-7, they exploded an an 11-1 run to take an 18-9 lead. Junior Annelise Sokolow (Draper, Utah/Juan Digo Catholic) registered a pair of kills in the run. She was joined by first-year Isabel Macia (Coral Gables, Fla./Divine Savior Academy), who tallied a pair of service aces. After three straight points for Martin Luther, Carleton closed the door on set three, finishing on a 7-1 run to win the set 25-13.
 
With Carleton up two sets to one, Martin Luther came out with intensity in set four. The two teams slugged it out through the opening points, seeing Martin Luther out to a 9-5 lead. The Knights came roaring back with five straight points thanks in large part to back-to-back kills from Sokolow. Six unanswered points put Martin Luther back in front (15-10) and thought the Knights battled down the stretch, Martin Luther closed the set with a 25-21, tying the contest at two sets apiece.
 
Carleton came out firing in the fifth and final set, once again drawing on the energy from a raucous home crowd. Three aces in the opening six points gave the Knights a 6-3 advantage in the early going. Carleton extended the lead to 9-5, but after switching sides, Martin Luther found new energy, scoring 10 of the last 13 points to take the deciding set 15-12, finalizing the win for the away team.
 
"Tonight was a hard-fought battle from both sides," commented head coach Abby Monson. "I couldn't be more proud of this team and how they played tonight. They are continuing to get better, grow, and become one. Now it is time to get back in the gym and get ready for the next opponent this weekend. I also want to give a huge thank you to all of our fans for coming out tonight and cheering us on."
 
The Knights were led by strong performances from Kerrigan Candra (So./Joliett, Ill./Plainfield Central), who racked up a double-double on the night with 17 kills and 11 digs. Sokolow followed with her own double-double, tallying 12 kills and a team-high 15 digs. Dixon also had a strong game, with eight kills of her own. Macia tallied 37 assists to go along with five aces.
 
Up Next for the Knights
The Knights begin conference play on Saturday, traveling to Duluth to take on St. Scholastica and the University of Wisconsin-Superior at the St. Scholastica Triangular on Saturday, Sept. 17. They will return home to play St. Catherine University on the Wednesday, Sept. 21.