St. Bonifacius, Minn.- Polars Volleyball took on the Martin Luther College Knights on Friday night and fell in four sets 3-1.
The Knights got off to a strong start early in the first set leading the Polars 8-2. Crown fought back and closed the gap bringing the score to 13-11 with the Knights still holding the lead. Martin Luther was able to build back some momentum, going on an uncontested 6-point run bringing the score to 19-11 with the Knights in front. The Knights were able to maintain that lead and bring the set to a 25-15 end.
Sydney Cotten and
Taylor Schafer led the Polars with 3 kills each in the first set.
Similar to the first set Martin Luther took control early in set number two, leading Crown 12-5. Eventually the Polars were able to rally back into the game, tying it up at 19. After trading points back and forth, a block from Cotten sealed the set win ending the set 25-23 in favor of the Polars. Cotten added another 3 kills in set number two.
This time it was Crown jumping out in front to start the third set leading the Knights 6-4. But from that point on Martin Luther stepped out in front and maintained the lead, despite a few late surges from the Polars. The Knights won set number three 25-20.
Alyssa Heagney had a strong set for the Polars ending with 5 kills.
Set number four stayed close until the very end. Crown and the Knights traded blows all throughout the set until eventually the Knights jumped ahead at the very end besting the Polars 26-24. Offensively the Polars had three players with double digit kills, Heagney with 12, Cotten with 11, and
Emma Bottelberghe with 10.
Brooke Rummel led the way with assists, finishing the night with 32 for the Polars, and
Madilyn Smith and Cotten each added two blocks. On the defensive end
Ellie Fuller and Bottelberghe tied with 18 digs on the night.
With this loss to the Knights the Polars record drops to 5-6 on the season (1-4 in UMAC play.) The Polars will play again tomorrow hosting conference opponent Bethany Lutheran College Saturday, October 5th at 1pm.
