New Ulm, MN - The Martin Luther College Knights squared off with Macalester on Wednesday evening for the first home contest of the 2023 season. MLC battled tough, but came up short losing to the Scots in four sets (3-1). 

The two teams went back and forth in the first set, with the Scots taking it 25-20. The Knights rebounded in set two as only three points separated the teams throughout the set. MLC ended up claiming it with a score of 25-23.

MLC looked poised to take control of the third set as they shot up to an 8-2 lead following an attack error from Macalester. However, the Scots figured out their way back into it and were led by Adisa Preston's powering kills. As a result, Macalester won the third set 25-20 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Scots then went up 17-7 in the fourth set, their biggest lead throughout the match, but the Knights had a final push to extend it as Grace Kieselhorst and Paige Biesterfeld contributed with kills. MLC would come within three points (22-19), but the Scots had multiple kills to put away MLC in the match, defeating them 25-20 for the 3-1 win.

The Knights were once again led in kills by Kieselhorst, who recorded 13. Lauren Paulsen had 12 digs and four service aces at the outside hitter position. 

MLC goes to 2-3 now on the season and will go back to tournament play as they appear in the UW-River Falls tournament where they will play three matches. The first match will start on Friday, September 8, against St. Olaf. Match time is slated for 5 p.m.