Junior defensive specialist McKenna Reagan led the seventh-ranked St. Thomas volleyball team with 18 kills Thursday to defeat Carleton 3-2 and put her team in the MIAC playoff finals against St. Benedict Saturday at Schoenecker Arena.

The Tommies (33-1) squeaked by the Knights (18-10) in a five-set battle. The team hit a total of .244 with Reagan leading the Tommies in kills.

The Tommies have won 28 consecutive matches this season.

Coach Thanh Pham said the team was looking to play hard coming into the match.

“When we didn’t play well, they took advantage of it,” Pham said. “We just said, ‘time to go to work. Put it to them.’”

In set No. 1, Carleton brought energy to the court. The Knights’ presence proved to be a threat when the team was at an early 6-4 lead. Sophomore opposite hitter Sara Atkinson contributed to the Tommies’ counterattack with a rip down the line. Atkinson had 14 kills throughout the match.

The set continued with the Knights controlling the pace and a game altering double block by the team’s defense. Carleton stormed ahead with a 16-10 lead over the Tommies. Junior middle blocker Mackenzie Piechowski slammed a kill cross-court, reducing the Tommies’ deficit to 17-13. Piechowski continued to keep St. Thomas within striking distance with an off-speed shot. Carleton surged ahead, securing set point at 24-20.

The Knights won the first set 25-21.

Atkinson said the team wasn’t on its game in the first set.

“We weren’t playing at our level,” Atkinson said. “We weren’t playing Tommie volleyball.”

In set No. 2, the Tommies brought the energy to the court. Junior setter Katie Maher gave the Tommies a two-point lead with her serving. Reagan then pounded a kill down the line, extending her team’s 5-3 lead. Reagan continued to carry the team forward with a cross-court kill. Carleton didn’t let St. Thomas pull away as it fought to stay in the set.

Senior middle blocker Jessa Youso gave the Knights a chance with her ace, tying the game at 16. Atkinson and Piechowski didn’t let this put a damper on the team’s fight when they pressed a double block, giving the Tommies an 18-16 edge. Sophomore outside hitter Jill Greenfield locked in set No. 2 for the Tommies when she cranked the ball down the line.

The Tommies won 25-17.

Atkinson said that team chemistry and unity contributed to the Tommies’ success.

“We’re really cohesive,” Atkinson said. “It makes it a lot easier to play with the girls.”

Set No. 3 served as leverage for the Tommies as Reagan tooled off the Knights’ block early with her team trailing 4-3. Sophomore middle blocker Kelly Foley gave St. Thomas a 9-6 lead with her cut around the block. The Knights fought back, tying the score at 12. Greenfield gave the Tommies a 14-12 advantage with her ace in the midst of the game. The team continued to roll ahead with Foley’s cross-court kill. The Tommies clinched set No. 3 with a 25-20 win, the team’s second set of the match.

Set No. 4 began much like set No. 1 with the Knights coming out with heart. Carleton secured the lead right away with a three-point advantage over the Tommies. Junior middle blocker Paige Brimeyer ripped a kill on the Knights’ side, tying the score and giving the Tommies momentum. The Tommies regained their composure and took the match in their favor with their 15-9 advantage over the Knights.

The Knights fought to tie the match at 22 during the crucial part of the set. Senior rightside hitter Sarah Nielsen kept the Knights alive by tying the set once more at 24 with a kill.

Carleton won set No. 4 26-24. The Tommies went into match five.

Atkinson said the Tommies’ loss in set No. 4 served as a motivating factor going into the final set.

“It’s definitely nerve-racking after you work really hard and the game’s very close, and then you lose it,” Atkinson said. “It definitely fueled our fire and made us come out strong.”

Carleton proved that heart could determine the outcome of the match as the team tipped the set in their favor with a 6-2 lead over the Tommies early on. The Knights continued to keep the momentum going when sophomore middle blocker Karen Halls stuffed Foley. Carleton kept the Tommies under control as they surged ahead with a six-point advantage, forcing the Tommies to take a timeout.

Reagan said Pham wasn’t going to let his team give up the fight that they had given all match.

“At one point, Thanh called a timeout and he was like, ‘I am not letting this happen,’” Reagan said. “From there, it just turned around.”

With the help of Foley and Greenfield pressing double blocks and a cross-court shot by Foley, the team was at match-point. The Tommies ended the match 15-12, securing their place in Saturday’s conference championship game.

Pham said the team’s main focus for tonight’s match was concentration and controlling its own play.

“We weren’t too shattered by the losses,” Pham said. “We knew that if we controlled things on our side of the net, we’d be OK.”

Sean Crotty can be reached at crot0230@stthomas.edu.