NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton volleyball team finished the 2024 season on a high note, sweeping Concordia College 3-0 Saturday night at West Gym on Senior Night.  With the win, the Knights finish the year 13-13 overall and 4-7 in the MIAC.
 
The 13 wins marks the most for a Carleton volleyball team since the 2016 season when the Knights finished 14-8 on the year.  It is the second consecutive year Carleton has posted a 4-7 record in league play after amassing a combined four conference wins in the past three seasons prior to 2023.
 
Saturday night's action saw the Knights out to a quick 5-1 lead in the opening set.  Points continued to come in chunks for both teams throughout the first frame.  After Concordia came back to tie things up 5-5, Carleton came back to regain the lead and later used a string of four straight points to flex a 15-10 advantage.  The Cobbers came back to within one on four separate occasions, the last of which came late in the set when they scored back-to-back points to cut the lead to 23-22.  But the Knights slammed the door with the final two points of the set to take the opener 25-22.
 
Carleton jumped out to another early lead in the second set, this time a 6-1 advantage that later expanded to 14-8.  Concordia came back to cut that lead in half to trail by just three points late in the frame with the score 19-16.  But for the second straight set, the Knights closed the frame with authority, this time scoring the last six points thanks in large part to consecutive kills from first-year Abby Kvart and back-to-back aces from junior Isabel Macia to score the final two points of the set and secure the 25-16 win.
 
It was a similar script to start the third set.  Carleton bolted out to a 7-1 lead in the early going, but this time Concordia came all the way back to take the lead (11-10) for the first time in the match.  That lead grew to as many as three late in the set when the Cobbers led 23-20 and looked to be on the verge of extending the match.  But the Knights closed the set strong yet again, scoring six of the final seven points to close out the set 26-24 and take the match in three straight sets.
 
Senior Kerrigan Candra led the way for the Knights in her final match wearing the Maize and Blue.  She put up 10 kills, giving her 644 kills in her three years at Carleton and 869 in her collegiate career.  Abby Kvart also joined Candra with 10 kills and added four blocks.  Megan Smith posted 32 assists with seven digs and three aces, while junior Ella Curtis-Revelle was the lone Knight to tally double figure digs with 11.
 
As is tradition at Carleton, the final home match of the season is designated as Senior Night where each program has an opportunity to honor its senior class.  Seniors Grace Malooly, Kerrigan Candra, Sofia Quanbeck, and Talia Marash were all recognized following Saturday night's match for their commitment and contributions to the Carleton volleyball program.