ST. PETER, Minn. - The Carleton volleyball team fell 3-1 to Gustavus Friday night in what proved to be a hard-fought match. After going down 2-0, the Knights came back to win the third set, and stayed with the Gusties in the fourth, but ultimately couldn't come back from the deficit.
 
In the opening set, the Knights fell behind 7-0 to open up the match, prompting an early timeout. A kill from Kerrigan Candra (So./Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central) put them on the board, but the Gusties continued to control the early going, finding themselves up 15-3 near the middle of the frame, prompting another timeout for the Knights. Carleton made a run for it, with kills from Candra and Annelise Sokolow (Jr./Draper, Utah/Juan Diego Catholic) that made it 15-5. However, Gustavus continued to put on the pressure, and walked away with the set 25-11. 
 
Moving into the second set, Carleton found some energy, going up 3-0 early with a kill from Naiya Karl (Sr./Fargo, N.D./Fargo South) and two consecutive blocks from Sylvia Dixon (Fy./Vienna, Va./James Madison). Gustavus responded with three straight points of their own, and tied things up at three. From there, the Gusties took the lead and stayed there, pushing out to a 15-8 lead around halfway through the set. Two kills from Candra brought the Knights back within five (15-10), but Gustavus remained continued to rack up points to ultimately take the set 25-16. 
 
Momentum shifted in the third set as Carleton found its footing, and went up 7-1 right off the bat with help from a kill by Sokolow and an excellent block from Jancyn Appel (Sr./Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) to finish a great run that boosted the energy for the Knights. The Knights thwarted any comeback bid the Gusties tried to mount, taking a 21-10 lead late in the set. They kept pushing, ultimately taking the set 25-16.
 
The Knights went into the fourth set with confidence, but the Gusties wouldn't make it easy on them. The teams traded points back-and-forth as they both battled, making it a tie game at six apiece, but the momentum started to shift back in the opposition's favor as Gustavus broke the tie. The Gusties continued to put on pressure, taking a 14-8 lead near the halfway point. Trailing 24-16, the Knights made one final push with four straight points to bring them within four points (24-20). But a final kill from Gustavus gave them the set 25-20, and the match 3-1. 

"I'm really proud of this team's fight tonight," said Head Coach Abby Monson. "Don't count us out."
 
The Knights were led with an excellent performance from Kerrigan Candra (So./Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central), who racked up 15 kills, followed by Annelise Sokolow (Jr./Draper, Utah/Juan Diego Catholic) who went for a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs. Isabel Macia (Fy./Coral Gables, Fla./Divine Savior Academy) chipped in 35 assists in the loss, which dropped the Knights to 3-10 overall and 0-3 in MIAC play.
 
Up Next for the Knights
 The Knights return to West Gym to host a triangular tomorrow, where they will face Macalester and Luther College. After a break, they will travel to St. Paul to face Bethel on Friday, October 7th.