Ripon, WI - MLC opened up its 2024 season in the Ripon College Classic for the second consecutive year. Friday night saw the Knights take on Marian University (WI) and Illinois Tech. MLC dropped the first match to Marian 3-2 before finishing the evening off strong with a 3-1 victory over Illinois Tech.

Marian (WI) 3, MLC 2

MLC fell behind early in the first match after the Sabres took a two-set advantage. Despite the momentum trending towards the Marian sideline, the Knights managed to pull a come back to even the match up 2-2 apiece.

MLC was nearly two points away from securing the comeback, especially following a Lauren Paulsen kill and an Anna Kieselhorst service ace to go up 14-12. However, the Sabres had other plans and scored four unanswered points to take the final set as well as the match. 

The Knights surpassed Marian in blocks (14-5) and aces (14-9), but the Sabres edged MLC in kills (62-47). Paulsen finished with 13 kills, while Grace Kieselhorst grabbed 11 of her own, as Ella Walz paced the team in assists (26). Defensively, Lydia Feidt recorded seven blocks and Anna Kieselhorst led the team with 21 digs.

MLC 3, Illinois Tech 1

There would be no comeback attempt needed in the 7 p.m. match, as MLC took care of business in four tightly contested sets against Illinois Tech, edging the Scarlet Hawks (26-24, 25-19, 26-28, 25-23). Grace Kieselhorst sealed the victory with three consecutive kills and the Knights defeated Illinois Tech with a collective effort from the whole team. Kieselhorst finished with 19 kills to help MLC pick up its first win of the young season, while Walz topped her previous output of 26 assists in the previous match, dishing out 29 assists this time around.

MLC (1-1) will look to grab a couple of more wins on Saturday, when they play Luther College and Mt. Mary University to conclude the Ripon Classic. The Knights play Luther at 12 p.m. and Mt. Mary at 2 p.m.