ST. PAUL, Minn. – Trailing 8-3 in a deciding fifth set, the Carleton volleyball team showed what it was made of, coming all the way back to win the set and defeat Macalester College 3-2 in thrilling fashion on Friday night at Leonard Center.  The win moves the Knights to 6-11 (3-3 MIAC) on the year.
 
Carleton came out to grab the early advantage with an opening set win.  After exchanging leads with the Scots through the opening points of the sets, the Knights trailed 12-10.  But a 7-1 run flipped the momentum in the set and gave Carleton a 17-13 lead. 
 
With the Knights leading 19-14, Macalester put together a 6-2 stretch to claw within one point (21-20), causing excitement down the stretch.  The two teams traded side outs over the final seven points to give the Knights the opening set by a score of 25-23.
 
After Carleton scored the opening point of the second set, a quick 7-1 response for the Scots gave the home team an early 7-2 lead.  They extended that lead later in the set when a 6-1 run opened up a 15-6 advantage. 
 
Though it appeared the Scots were poised to run away with the set, the Knights dug in and responded with an 8-2 run to climb back within three points (17-14).  The difference was as close as they would come the rest of the way as Macalester held the visitors at arm's length the remainder of the set to it 25-19 and even the match at a set apiece.
 
Macalester extended its momentum into the third set, cracking it open early and cruising to a 25-13 win.  Tied 3-3, the Scots used a 6-1 run to open up a 9-4 advantage in the early going.  A 5-1 spurt extended the lead before finishing the set scoring six of the final seven points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
It looked as though the Scots were set to close the night out midway through the fourth set when they led 16-15.  But the Knights had other plans, scoring 10 of the final 11 points of the set, including a string of nine straight to tie the match up.  Kerrigan Candra was the catalyst, serving eight consecutive times including a pair of aces.  Sylvia Dixon also registered a pair of kills in the stretch, which helped the Knights send the match to a deciding fifth set.
 
After the first two points went the way of the Knights, the Scots came roaring back with five straight points in the midst of an 8-1 run to crack open an 8-3 lead.  The spurt looked to grab the momentum at the turn, but the Knights stood tall and answered with five straight points of their own.  The Carleton experience came through with a pair of kills from Candra, another kill by Catie Marvin, and Annelise Sokolow at the service line.
 
Macalester responded, scoring the next two points, but a 5-1 run flipped the momentum.  Candra got things started with a kill before a pair of huge blocks gave the Knights a 13-11 edge.  Macalester clawed to stay in it, but a pair of kills from Sylvia Dixon proved to be too much, as the Knights took the final set 15-13 and collected the thrilling road victory.
 
The two teams hit nearly identical percentages on the night, as Carleton hit .121 to Macalester's .123.  The advantage for the Knights came with 13 blocks to just four for the Scots.
 
Sylvia Dixon and Kerrigan Candra each registered 11 kills on the night to lead the Knights.  Dixon also put up 12 digs on the night to total her second double-double of the season.  First-years Jennifer Bricker and Rachel Bingham each had a night at the net, registering six and five blocks, respectively.  Megan Smith (21) and Isabel Macia (14) both tallied double-figure assists, while Annelise Sokolow, in her second straight match as the libero posted a career-high 30 digs on the night.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will be back in action next Friday when it plays host to Augsburg at West Gym.  That match is set for a 7:00pm start.