WINONA, Minn. – The Saint Mary's volleyball team (8-8, 0-1) fell to the Carleton Knights (10-6, 1-1), 3-2, in their MIAC opener on Friday night. Despite strong efforts from Ayla Olson, who finished the evening with a season-best game of four blocks and 18 kills, the Cardinals could not overcome a late surge from the Knights.
SMU 2, CC 3
The two teams battled in a tight set, trading early points on early errors. It was not until the Cardinals pulled away by a game-best five points to lead 17-12, led by offensive efforts from Olson and Maddie Baker. The Knights were able to tie the set 19 even, but Kinlee Grattan served the hot hand that was sophomore all-around player Olson.
In set two, the Cardinals found themselves trailing 6-2 before a few attack errors allowed them to creep back. The team took its first lead of the game, 11-10, before making a push to 16-10. Kaia DePaolo and Brianna Hanneken were attacking the weak spots for the Knights as the team took set two 25-21.
It was looking like all Cardinals.
The Knights made a lot of defensive adjustments and almost looked like they knew the Cardinals' next move for the rest of the game.
The Knights held the Cardinals to just a .061 attacking percentage, and seven attacking errors hurt the team late, as the Knights took set three, 25-20.
The Cardinals could not get back on track; they made eight errors and could not get in a rhythm, falling 25-16 as the Knights pushed to five sets.
The Cardinals attempted to rally late with tough serving from Brooklyn Bolton and timely kills from Kali Olson to close a 12-3 deficit to a 13-9 deficit, but the early drought proved costly. The team fell 15-9 in the final set.
Olson led all scorers with 18 kills, and Grattan made 18 assists.
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