NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College volleyball team battled to a 3-1 defeat (25-8, 25-19, 29-31, 25-16) against UW-Superior (UWS) in Saturday's regular season finale.

The Knights struggled to start the match, dropping the first set 25-8, but started to pick up steam in a more competitive (25-19) second-set loss. 

In the third game, MLC matched the Yellowjackets with each hit, going back and forth until Rhianna Hunter finally recorded two straight kills to give the Knights the 31-29 win.

The Yellowjackets took control back in the fourth game, building a big lead on the way to taking the set and the match. 

Kelsey Birschbach led MLC with 12 kills and two service aces, while Hannah Willems and Abigail Winkel chipped in from their spots in the middle with eight and seven kills, respectively.

Kylie Wolf led the team with 22 assists. Kate Aswege recorded a match-best 18 digs.

MLC closed the regular season with a 4-6 overall record to go with a 2-6 UMAC record. UWS improved to 7-1 overall and in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action next week in the UMAC Postseason Tournament. MLC will be the tournament's seven seed, and will face the yet to be determined six seed on Thursday, April 8.