SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team travels to Carleton Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. contest. The Gusties enter the matchup 10-12 overall and 3-2 in the MIAC while the Knights enter 5-14 overall and 1-4 in the conference.
The Series: Tonight’s matchup marks the 78th all-time meeting between the Gusties and Knights with Gustavus currently leading the series 60-16-1. Last season, the two teams met in Northfield on Sept. 19 with the Gusties winning 3-0.
Scouting the Gusties: Gustavus enters the contest most recently dropping three contests this weekend at UW-Whitewater. Through 22 matches, Kate Holtan leads the team, and ranks second in the conference with an average of 3.57 kills per set. Holtan has also recorded double-digit kills in the teams last seven matches, eclipsing 20 in three of them. Kaylyn Johnston and Mitaya Johnson have split setting duties, with Johnston averaging 6.13 assists per set while Johnson averages 4.57. Hailey Embacher leads the back row with 419 digs while Kaikea Welsh and Sydney Olson have been solid at the net with 58 and 56 blocks, respectively.
Scouting the Knights: Carleton is most recently coming off a 3-0 loss to UW-River Falls on Saturday. As a team the Knights have been strong defensively at the net, notching 39 solo blocks, which ranks third in the conference. Through 19 matches, Abby Loe has been the team’s main threat, notching 2.66 kills per set. The Knights have three other players averaging 1.75 kills per set, with Olivia Powell leading the bunch with a .256 attack percentage. Inger Shelton has been the team’s primary setter, averaging 6.72 assists per set, while Tegan Carlson has led the back row with an average of 3.11 digs.