Courtesy of Adam Hussman/MLC SID

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

MLC goes 1-1 at Ripon invite

RIPON, Wis. — The MLC volleyball team had its season opener on Friday in the form of a doubleheader, where they took on Ripon and Emmaus (IA) at the Ripon College Classic. The Knights managed to take a split in the pair of matches, as Ripon defeated them 3-0 in the first one, while the Knights came back with a 3-0 sweep of their own over Emmaus.

Ripon 3, MLC 0

In the first match, the host school, Ripon earned a 25-15, 25-9, 25-20 sweep of the Knights and recorded a total of 38 kills, 17 of which coming from Makenna Harren.

Junior Ella Walz led MLC with 12 assists, while Anna Kieselhorst picked up eight digs at the Libero position. Lydia Feidt finished with a team-high in kills (8) and blocks (3).

MLC 3, Emmaus 0

The Knights would bounce back strong in the second match, topping Emmaus 25-17, 25-22, 26-24.

MLC went up double-digits in the first set, before Emmaus made a little comeback to make it within four points (20-16). From there, MLC pushed forward with a 5-1 run. The Knights received a challenge in the second and third set, but sealed the deal with the sweep and recorded 18 kills in the final set to give them the edge.

MLC delivered 46 kills in total and the Knights had three players finish with double-digit digs, including Kieselhorst (18), Walz (12), and Ella Slangor. Walz completed the double-double performance with an impressive 31 assists, which gives the setter a new career high in that category. Meanwhile, Feidt paced MLC with another team high in kills (10).

The Knights (1-1) will play two more matches at the Ripon College Classic tomorrow with a 10 a.m. contest versus Aurora (IL) and a match with Saint Mary’s (MN) at 2 p.m.

MEN’S SOCCER

BVU 2, MLC 0

NEW ULM — The Martin Luther College men’s soccer team kicked off its 2025 season with a home nonconference matchup with Buena Vista on Friday after the women’s game with the Beavers. The Knights gave it a good effort, but were shutout 2-0 by Buena Vista.

The Beavers were on the attack from the get go and got quality looks at the net to begin play. Those chances carried over to the 19th minute, where they converted with a goal from Brayden Scwhink to go up 1-0. The Knights defense held them in check for the rest of the first period and played well for much of the second half, but Andres Gonzalez would hit a left-footed shot on an empty net in the 72nd minute to put the game out of reach 2-0.

Buena Vista had a 27-5 edge in shots taken, with 16 of them being on target.

Sophomore goalkeeper, Nicholas Russ, recorded 14 saves on the day with just the two goals allowed for the Knights.

MLC (0-1) will be on the road in their next game at UW-Stout on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. in Menomonie, WI.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

BVU 2, MLC 0

NEW ULM — The Martin Luther College women’s soccer team opened its 2025 season at home with a nonconference matchup against Buena Vista on Friday afternoon. The Knights had solid control of the ball for much of the game, but it’d be a goal within the first five minutes from the Beavers that separated the two teams up until Buena Vista tacked on one more goal in the final 10 minutes to beat MLC 2-0.

MLC outshot Buena Vista 17-15 and a had an advantage with shots on goal (14-10), but couldn’t get one to go through the back of the net.

Katie Schoeneck had a team-high seven shots on goal, while her sister, Rachel Schoeneck, had three on target to lead the Knights’ offense.

Hailey Chambers had a goal scored in the second period and finished with an assist on the opening score of the game. Bailey Gibbons scored the first period goal for the Beavers.

Maria Vik had a good start to her sophomore season at the goalkeeper position and finished with eight saves at the net.

MLC (0-1) will have another home game on Sunday, Aug. 31, when they host Wisconsin Lutheran College at 3 p.m.