NEW ULM, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris volleyball team saw a three-match winning streak without a set dropped along the way come to an end on Saturday with a 3-1 defeat (21-25, 19-25, 25-23, 21-25) to Martin Luther College.

The first set was trending Minnesota Morris' way throughout until a late surge from Martin Luther swung things and gave the Knights a 1-0 lead in the match. The Cougars led comfortably most of the way and had a 20-17 lead following a service error from Martin Luther. The Knights turned the set around by scoring five straight to take a 22-20 lead. Following a block from Jenna Howden and Kennedy Geller, MLC scored three straight to finish it off at 25-21.

The momentum continued for Martin Luther in the second set. After Howden and Brooke Christensen combined for a block to give the Cougars a 4-2 edge, the Knights reeled off nine points in a row to go up, 11-4. A kill from Lydia Nash later in the set got Minnesota Morris to within three at 19-16, but the Cougars could get no closer from there as Martin Luther went up, 2-0.

The third set kept Minnesota Morris in the match, but it wasn't easy. The Cougars led the entire way until the very end when Martin Luther knotted the score at 22-22. Following a trade of side-outs that left it at 23-all, Nash finished it off for the Cougars with consecutive kills to slice the deficit to 2-1.

Unfortunately UMN Morris couldn't keep things rolling and force a fifth set. Martin Luther pulled ahead, 20-13, before three kills from Laura Wellbrock helped the Cougars pull within two, 20-18. However, twice down the stretch Minnesota Morris got within two but a service error gave the Knights a free point and MLC ended it with a block to close out the victory.

Nash submitted a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs on the afternoon. Wellbrock added one as well with 10 kills and 16 digs. Howden recorded 12 kills in the match. McKenzie Newton was a third Cougar with a double-double as she had 37 assists and 11 digs. Alyssa Ukestad led all players in the match with 24 digs.

Minnesota Morris (9-9, 5-2 UMAC) comes home to Jim Gremmels Court on Tuesday night to host Crown College at 7 p.m.