It was an exciting week for the St. Catherine University volleyball team as it pulled of a spectacular 3-2 victory over Carleton College Wednesday to tally the first Minnesota Invtercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) win of 2013. The Wildcats also had a strong outing at a tough UW-Whitewater tournament this weekend and finished 2-2 in the week's four matches. As she has done all season, setter Karsee Knutson (New London, Minn.) fueled the Wildcat offense in record fashion to pick up her second Wildcat Athlete of the Week award of the season.Â
In the last two weeks, Knutson has put up career numbers setting for the Wildcats, but her performance in the win over the Knights Wednesday is her most impressive so far. The junior dished out a career-high 60 assists in the win which is not only the most by a MIAC setter this season, but is also the most by a Wildcat setter since Whitney Sparby recorded 66 assists on Sept. 10, 2005. Her total is also 18 better than her previous career-best of 42 assists in a single match set last Wednesday in the Wildcats' loss to Concordia. In addition to her 60 assists, she also added a block assist and seven digs.Â
In tournament play, Knutson helped with Wildcats knock off a set in a 3-1 loss to nationally-ranked No. 11 Washington University in St. Louis Friday evening with her 20 assists. Against host UW-Whitewater, Knutson added 17 assists and was second on the team in digs with eight. She then fueled the Wildcats' 3-0 sweep of Westiminster with 34 assists, nine digs and two of the team's six service aces. Knutson finished the week averaging 8.73 assists per set for a total of 131. She also compiled 31 digs, five total blocks and four service aces.Â
Knutson and the Wildcats return to MIAC action this week as they host Saint Mary's University Friday at 7 p.m. in Butler Center. They will then travel up the road to take on Macalester College Saturday at 3 p.m. in St. Paul.Â
