Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Martin Luther College’s Lauren Paulsen bumps the ball during a season-opening women’s volleyball match with Nebraska Wesleyan at MLC on Thursday night.

By Jeff Meder

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM — Nebraska Wesleyan University swept Martin Luther College 27-25, 25-17, 25-23 on Thursday in a nonconference Division III college volleyball match.

It was the season opener for the Knights.

It was an emotional time for everyone as there was a moment of silence held in memory of the late Jim Unke, who had faithfully served MLC for 40 years. His most recent role was the school’s Activities Director.

Both teams played each other tough throughout the entire match. The Knights, however, just couldn’t put together enough runs to win a set. MLC made NWU work extra hard for every point it scored.

In Set 1, MLC jumped out to a slim lead early on. There were nine ties and four lead changes. NWU grabbed the lead at 9-8. The Prairie Wolves tried to pull away from the Knights, but MLC was persistent and kept coming back.

MLC’s final lead of the set was 23-22. Addie Thomas’ kill regained the lead for NWU of 25-24. Hannah Willems’ soft tip over the net tied it at 25-25. The Knights were called for too many hits of the ball and a double block by the Prairie Wolves gave them the final 2 points to win the set.

In the second set, NWU looked as if it was going to take control when it jumped out to a 5-2 lead. Erica Hopping and Nyah Chambers came up with a double block at the net for a 10-5 NWU advantage. The Knights couldn’t overcome the deficit, and the Prairie Wolves won the second set.

Set 3 was a battle. The lead changed hands several times and there were multiple ties as well. MLC held the lead, but NWU tied it at 18-18 on an ace by Kobie Patten. An unforced error by MLC gave the lead back to NUW. After a long volley, MLC knocked the ball out of bounds, which gave NWU a 20-18 lead.

MLC got a big kill to tie it at 22-22. Thomas’ kill regained the lead for the Prairie Wolves at 23-22. A front-line double block made it 24-22.

MLC countered with a solid return to cut the deficit to 24-23. Thomas answered with a strong kill with gave the set and match to NWU.

MLC head coach Emma Holzhueter said it was a combination of “butterflies and adrenaline” being her first match as Knights head coach.

“I know what we can do,” Holzhueter said. “I look forward to the opportunity to see what we can do. Tonight, we played hard and we showed lots of resilience.”

Lauren Paulsen led MLC with 15 digs, while Grace Kieselhorst added nine kills and Willems had seven kills.

Thomas led NWU with 10 kills and 14 digs.

MLC (0-1) will hit the road for four matches, which will be in the Beloit (WI) Tournament on Friday and Saturday.