RIVER FALLS, Wis. – After a long delay earlier in the day, the Carleton volleyball team fell in four sets at the hands of host UW-River Falls on Saturday night at the Falcon Invite.  The Knights will return home for their home opener at West Gym on Wednesday night.
 
The Falcons jumped out to a 5-1 start in the opening set.  Carleton came back to tie the score (9-9) before UW-River Falls used a 7-1 run to open up a six-point lead (16-10).  That turned out to be all the cushion the Falcons needed in a 25-19 opening set win.
 
Saturday's second set began much the same way, but this time the Knights had the answer.  After UW-River Falls took an 11-8 lead through the early going, Carleton responded with a 7-1 run of its own to take a 15-12 lead.  The Falcons clawed back and held the lead late (22-21), but, led by a pair of kills from senior Sylvia Dixon, the Maize and Blue finished the frame strong, scoring four of the last five points to take the set 25-23 and even the match.
 
The third set was a back-and forth affair.  Each team took its turn leading with spurts of three and four consecutive points giving either team the advantage.  The Knights led 20-17 late in the frame before the Falcons scored five of the next seven points to tie the score (22-22).  Carleton took the lead back (23-22), but UW-River Falls scored four of the last five points in the set to take the third 26-24.
 
UW-River Falls held the advantage through most of the fourth set.  Leading 19-10, the Knights came back to pull within four points (22-18), but it was as close as the visitors would come in the final set.  The Falcons went on to capture the fourth 25-20 and secure the 3-1 victory.
 
Junior Rachel Bingham led the way for the Knights with a career-high 16 kills.  Dixon followed with 10 kills.  Junior setter Megan Smith put up a double-double with 23 assists and 13 digs, while senior Ella Curtis-Revelle collected a team-high 14 digs. 
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will now return to the friendly confines of West Gym for its home opener on Wednesday against Bethany Lutheran.  That match is set for a 7pm start.