NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton volleyball team fell in straight sets to crosstown rival St. Olaf College in the "Battle for the Bell" Friday night at Skoglund Center. With the result, the Knights drop to 10-8 overall and 1-3 in the MIAC.
Carleton played from behind for most of the opening set. The Knights did not lead in the frame, as the host Oles jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the early going. The St. Olaf lead grew to as many as eight points (15-7) before the Knights climbed back into contention. An 8-4 run brought the Knights to back within four (19-15), but it was as close as they would get in the lid lifter, as the Oles took the frame 25-19 to grab the early advantage in the match.
The Maize and Blue held the advantage in the early going of the second set. The Knights led 7-5, but St. Olaf outscored the visitors 20-7 over the remainder of the set, including four separate stretches of three straight points for the Oles and a string of seven unanswered.
Set three saw the Knights holding a slight edge late in the frame. An early 5-4 lead for Carleton was answered by a 5-1 run to give the Oles a 9-6 advantage. The Knights responded by scoring seven of the next 10 points to re-capture the lead (13-12). Both teams traded leads down the stretch. A pair of points for the Oles gave the home team the lead back. Carleton responded, only to be answered by St. Olaf and so it went until the Knights scored consecutive points to take a 22-21 lead late.
With the momentum swinging back-and-forth, the home team was the one to close the door. The Oles scored the final four points of the set to close it out 25-22 and take the match in three straight sets.
Sophomore
Rachel Bingham led the way for the Knights offensively with six kills. Senior
Kerrigan Candra added three aces, while sophomore
Jennifer Bricker posted six blocks. Sophomore
Megan Smith tallied her third straight double-double and seventh of the season with 14 assists and 11 digs.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will be right back at it tomorrow night when the Knights host Saint Mary's at West Gym. That match is set for a 5pm start.
