NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College volleyball team came out on the wrong side of an epic five-set match against Carleton on Wednesday, losing 3-2 by the scores of 22-25, 23-25, 26-24, 28-26 and 15-8.

The Knights started strong, winning the first two sets to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

Carleton battled back in a third set that featured 16 ties and five lead changes before finally scoring the 26-24 win.

The fourth set was more of the same, with Carleton holding off an MLC match point at 25-24 to ultimately force a fifth and deciding set.

Carleton owned the fifth set, riding the momentum of the previous two games as it hit .357 on the attack on the way to the win.

MLC hit .141 on the attack for the match, with Kelsey Birschbach and Lauren Paulsen leading the way with 15 and 12 kills, respectively. Kaylie Solomon added a season-high nine kills, while Hannah Willems finished with seven kills to go with her team-best six blocks.

Anna Treder recorded a double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs. Kate Aswege tied for the match lead with 16 digs to go with three service aces. 

MLC fell to 4-9 on the season in defeat. Carleton improved to 4-12 with the win.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, October 2, when they play a pair of matches in the Twin Cities. MLC will play at North Central at 1 p.m., followed by a match at Northwestern-St. Paul at 5 p.m.