SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Hamline lost to St. Catherine 3-0 on Friday. Hamline pushed each set into the 20s, including a third-set stretch in which they won five of six rallies to move from 14-14 to a 19-15 lead, but fell 21-25, 22-25, 23-25.
In the opening set, Hamline started with four straight service points, but St. Catherine finished with a 25-21 set win. The home team held a 15-9 edge in kills, led by Maddie Newton's six, while
Sophia Johnson paced Hamline with four kills and
Cameryn Sand distributed seven assists.
The Pipers built a 21-14 lead in the second set, with
Lexi Helmin recording five kills and
Nora Cairns and
Sophia Johnson adding three apiece. St. Catherine answered with 10 consecutive points, including three service aces from Maneeje Mostaghimi, and took the set 25-22.
Hamline held a 10-9 kill edge in the third set behind six kills from
Sophia Johnson, but St. Catherine had a 5-2 advantage in service aces, with Maddie Newton recording four. Sand's serving helped Hamline move from a 15-15 tie to a 19-15 lead, including her ace, before St. Catherine answered with five straight points from 20-19 and won the set 25-23.
Sophia Johnson led Hamline with 13 kills and finished with four digs. Sand recorded 24 assists, nine digs, three kills and a service ace.
Lexi Helmin added six kills while hitting .267, and
Ava Montanez collected nine digs with one ace.
Hamline is 3-11 overall and 1-2 in MIAC play. St. Catherine is 3-11 overall and 1-2 in MIAC play.
Up next, the Pipers face Bethany Lutheran College on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7 PM at Hutton Arena in St. Paul, Minn.
