ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Carleton College volleyball team (13-9, 3-6 MIAC) spent most of the match trying to play catch up before getting swept at Hamline University, 25-18, 25-21 and 25-22. Annie Eckhoff (Sr./Northfield, Minn.) and Kelly Lovett (Jr./Portland, Ore./Lincoln) paced the Knights with eight kills apiece.
The Pipers (13-12, 2-7 MIAC) built a 19-7 lead in the opening set, thanks in part to eight attack errors by the Knights. Carleton attempted a furious comeback, but the deficit proved to be too substantial.
After Carleton jumped out to a 5-1 advantage in the second set, a 7-0 Hamline run turned the momentum and once again the Knights were forced to play from behind.
With their back against the wall, the Knights battled back and forth with Hamline throughout the third set. A 7-0 Carleton run was followed soon afterward by a 6-0 spurt for the Pipers. With the match tied 22-22, Hamline scored the last three points, ending the night with its lone block of the match.
Beth Jarrett (Jr./Mounds View, Minn./Irondale) dished out 27 assists, including seven to Kyla Walter (Jr./Aspen, Colo.)
Sarah Halls (Sr./Edina, Minn.), Jessa Youso (Fy./Virginia, Minn.) and Eckhoff each figured in three blocks.
Danielle Bennett-Curry and Tasha Simmons had 11 kills apiece to lead Hamline.
Before playing a pair of must-win matches to finish out the regular season, Carleton will take it easy tomorrow when the Knights play their annual alumni game at 10 a.m. Knights Online hopes to be able to bring you the action from West Gym with a live video webcast.
To even have a chance of making the six-team MIAC Playoffs, Carleton will need to win both its road match at Augsburg College on Oct. 28 and the regular-season finale vs. rival St. Olaf College on Oct. 31. Even then, the Knights will need a lot of help as they currently trail the squads tied for fifth, sixth and seventh in the standings by two full games.