Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Martin Luther College volleyball team opened the 2018 season with a pair of defeats on Friday. The Knights dropped their first match 3-0 (25-11, 25-9, 25-11) at St. Olaf, and then traveled to St. Catherine for a 3-0 (25-9, 25-14, 25-21) loss to close the day.

St. Olaf 3, Martin Luther 0 (25-11, 25-9, 25-11)

The Knights opened the season with a 3-0 loss at St. Olaf as part of the Oles' season-opening tournament. 

The Knights' youth showed in the opening loss, as seven first-year players saw their first collegiate action. 

The Oles were strong on the attack throughout the match as they hit .329 over the course of three games. MLC struggled on the other end, hitting -.110.

Kelsey Birschbach and Kati Aguilar led MLC with four kills apiece. Jewel St. Germaine recorded a team-high six assists, while Katelyn Aswege led the team with eight digs.

St. Catherine 3, Martin Luther 0 (25-9, 25-14, 25-21)

The Knights showed improvement in the second match of the day, but were unable to take a set in a 3-0 defeat at St. Catherine.

MLC fell behind 1-0 in the match and then trailed big in the second set, but began to gain momentum with a strong close to that game. 

In the third set, the Knights went back and forth with the Wildcats and fought to the finish, but St. Kate's was able to come away with the win down the stretch to secure the 3-0 victory.

MLC will return to action tomorrow (September 1) when it plays tournament action at Carleton. The Knights open the day with a match against Carleton at 11 a.m., followed by a match against Hamline at 5 p.m. to close the day.