NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College volleyball team showed grit and toughness throughout Saturday's UMAC triangular on the way to a sweep of Crown and St. Scholastica. The Knights opened the day with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-14) over Crown, and finished with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 14-26, 26-24) win over St. Scholastica.

MLC 3, Crown 1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-14)

The Knights overcame an early deficit to earn their first win of the season in four games against Crown. 

The Storm overcame a late deficit to take the first set 25-23, but the Knights took momentum back with a 25-18 second-set win, and then took the match with a dominating final two sets. 

The Knights hit .185 for the match, but turned up the heat late as they hit .400 and .357 in the third and fourth sets, respectively. 

Ruth Buchholz led the Knights with 10 kills and hit .320, while Alyssa Heckendorf was very efficient with nine kills and an attack percentage of .667. Kati Aguilar and Kelsey Birschbach each finished with eight kills.

Jewel St. Germaine and Katelyn Aswege set new career highs with 25 assists and digs, respectively, while Samantha Paul recorded a career-high five blocks. 

MLC 3, CSS 1 (25-18, 25-23, 14-25, 26-24)

MLC overcame big deficits late in the second and fourth sets to top St. Scholastica 3-1 to close the day.

The Knights started quickly with a 25-18 first-set win, but trailed 22-18 late in the second set as the Saints threatened to tie the match. MLC battled back, however, and Birschbach served the final four points to complete the comeback and give the Knights a 2-0 lead.

The Saints took the third set and led 23-18 late in the fourth game, but the Knights once again battled back. Birschbach served four straight points to cut the deficit to 24-22, and St. Germaine served the final three points to secure the win.

Buchholz led the way on both ends of the court with 10 kills and seven blocks. Birschbach added 10 kills, while St. Germaine recorded 25 assists and 12 digs. Aswege led the team with 18 digs and added three service aces.

MLC improved to 2-9 on the season and 2-0 in UMAC play with the sweep.

The Knights will return to action on Tuesday, September 18, when they travel to Bethany Lutheran for another UMAC triangular. The Knights will face BLC at 3 p.m., followed by a match against Minnesota Morris at 5 p.m.