NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton volleyball team suffered its second loss in as many days Saturday night in a three-set loss to Hamline University at West Gym.  The loss drops the Knights to 6-13 overall and 1-7 in MIAC play.
 
The opening set was tied 11-11 before each team took its turn gaining the upper hand.  The Pipers were the first to strike, using four consecutive points to open up a 15-11 lead.  Carleton responded with five unanswered of its own to regain the advantage (16-15) as the two teams settled into a back-and-forth battle. 
 
A pair of 6-1 runs for each team followed, giving the Knights a 23-22 edge in the late stages.  First-year Kate Wiczynski led the charge with a pair of kills for Carleton.  But the Pipers scored the final three points of the set to win the opener 25-23.
 
Hamline jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in the second set before the Knights came back to tie the score 9-9.  The run that followed proved to be the difference in the frame, as the Pipers scored 10 of the next 12 points to open up their largest lead at any point in the match with an eight-point advantage (19-11). 
 
Carleton responded with four straight points to claw back within four (19-15), but the Pipers closed the door, scoring six of the final eight points of the set to close the frame 25-17 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Carleton came out swinging in the third set.  The Knights jumped out to a 5-2 lead before Hamline re-captured the edge (6-5).  Carleton responded with a 7-1 run to crack open a 12-7 lead and take the momentum back.  Four different Knights registered a kill in the run, led by senior Catie Marvin with two. 
 
Another 10-2 run for the Pipers would later prove to be the difference.  At the time, the run gave the visitors a 17-14 advantage, along with just enough breathing room as the Knights came back to tie the score twice down the stretch at 22-22 and 24-24.  But the Pipers were able to close out the match with the final two points in the third set and win 26-24.
 
Both Carleton setters registered double-figure assists on the night.  First-year Megan Smith led the way with 19, followed by sophomore Isabel Macia with 11.  Smith also tallied 10 digs to record her third double-double of the season.  Senior Annelise Sokolow led three Knight players with 15 digs, joining Kerrigan Candra (13) and Smith.  Rachel Bingham finished with nine kills and Sylvia Dixon tallied seven.
 
Up Next for the Knights
It will be a short turnaround for the Knights, who will travel to St. Joseph on Wednesday night for a 7:00pm match up with Saint Benedict.  Carleton will then return to West Gym for its final home match of the season on Saturday, Oct. 28.