NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Hamline (8-11, 3-5 MIAC) swept Carleton College (4-17, 2-6 MIAC) with scores of 25-23, 25-23, 25-17 on Saturday afternoon at West Gym. The Pipers recorded a total of 44 kills, led by a .429 hitting percentage in the first set.
Hamline captured the first set 25-23 against Carleton, capitalizing on a strong offensive performance by
Lexi Helmin, who contributed four kills.
Cameryn Sand facilitated the attack with multiple assists, including a pivotal setup for a service ace by
Kayli Starkey when tied 7-7. Despite Carleton's late push, aided by Sylvia Dixon's three kills, Hamline maintained the edge, closing the set with a kill from Helmin.
In the second set, Hamline edged Carleton 25-23, capitalizing on key defensive plays and timely errors by Carleton. The Pipers' blocking was crucial, as they forced three early attack errors by Ella Goolsby, contributing to a 6-5 lead.
Grace Bathurst's performance was pivotal with multiple kills and a service ace, helping Hamline sustain momentum. Despite service errors impacting both teams, Hamline maintained composure, sealing the set with a final service error from Carleton.
Hamline secured the third set with a decisive 25-17 victory, driven by a strong offensive performance.
Sophia Johnson and Bathurst contributed significantly, combining for multiple kills to help the team pull ahead.
Campbell Sims' service ace at a crucial moment extended Hamline's lead, while Carleton struggled with attack errors, further aiding Hamline's scoring efforts. The set concluded with Hamline capitalizing on Carleton's errors, including a final service ace to close the set.
Bathurst led the team with 12 kills on 18 attempts, achieving a .556 hitting percentage and contributing 15.5 points overall. Sand facilitated the offense with 36 assists while also adding two service aces and nine digs.
Mandy Dierks anchored the defense, posting 17 digs across the match. Helmin was efficient offensively, tallying 11 kills without an error, achieving a .579 hitting percentage.
