SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Hamline (5-17, 2-6 MIAC) lost to Carleton (14-9, 5-3 MIAC) 3-2 on Saturday at Hutton Arena. The Pipers rallied from 19-22 in the fourth set to win 25-22 and force a fifth set, but Carleton took the final set 15-7.
Carleton produced a 16-10 kill advantage and added two service aces to take the first set 25-17. The Pipers trimmed a 13-8 deficit to 13-11 on kills by
Sophia Johnson,
Ashley Norberg and
Cameryn Sand; Norberg finished with a team-high three kills, while Rachel Bingham had five for Carleton.
The Pipers took the second set 25-20, finishing with 14 kills to Carleton's 11 behind five kills from Norberg and four from
Lexi Helmin. Sand had 10 assists in the set, and the Pipers used a stretch from a 6-5 deficit to a 10-7 lead to create separation.
The Pipers produced 13 kills in the third set, led by seven from
Sophia Johnson, and
Monica Robles served six straight points during a 7-0 run that put the Pipers ahead 19-13. Carleton finished with 16 kills and a 4-1 edge in service aces, including two Rachel Bingham aces in a closing five-point stretch, to take the set 25-22.
The Pipers finished the fourth set on a 6-0 run to turn a 22-19 deficit into a 25-22 win, with
Lexi Helmin serving the final five points and recording two aces in that stretch. Carleton had a 12-11 edge in kills, but the Pipers totaled four service aces and three block points, while
Sophia Johnson put down four kills, including three during the closing run.
Carleton took the fifth set 15-7, using seven straight points after the Pipers opened with the first two points. Carleton held a 9-5 kill advantage in the set, led by four kills from Alexis Ormsby, while
Sophia Johnson had three of the Pipers' kills.
Sophia Johnson led the Pipers with 18 kills and 18.5 points while adding 13 digs. Sand finished with 39 assists, five total blocks and five digs.
Lexi Helmin recorded 11 kills, five total blocks, two service aces and 16 points.
Ava Montanez collected a team-high 17 digs and added three assists.
The Pipers are 5-17 overall and 2-6 in MIAC play. Carleton is 14-9 overall and 5-3 in MIAC play.
Up next, the Pipers travel to Duluth, Minn., to face College of St. Scholastica on Thursday, Oct. 29.
