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NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College volleyball team saw its season draw to a close following a 3-1 loss to No. 22 St. Olaf College. The match—which the Oles won 25-15, 25-21, 28-30, and 25-21—also marked the end of the collegiate playing career for the three seniors on the Knights roster: libero Laura Barsness (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North), middle hitter Annie Eckhoff (Northfield, Minn.), and right-side attacker Sarah Halls (Edina, Minn.)
Carleton (13-11, 3-8 MIAC) did all it could to slow down the Ole attack, totaling 13 blocks as a team, but St. Olaf (25-3, 9-2 MIAC) had four players reach double-figures in kills, led by Kim Smisek’s 17 on 48 attempts.
The Knights meanwhile got 10 kills from junior Kelly Lovett (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) and nine from Halls. Eckhoff and Sarah Nielsen (Fy./Altoona, Wis.) each contributed seven kills.
The opening set was tied 15-15 but the Oles finished on a 10-0 burst. Carleton fell behind early in the second set and spent the entire time trying to play catch up before coming up four points short.
The third set featured 14 ties, with Carleton staying alive after securing the 30-28 win. The Knights notched seven blocks in the set, including a combined effort by Nielsen and fellow-rookie Jessa Youso (Virginia, Minn.) to close the set.
The final set was tight throughout as the team’s played to a 21-21 tie. St. Olaf finished with four straight points and closed the match with a pair of Smisek kills.