New Ulm, Minn— The NCU Rams traveled to Martin Luther College on Saturday, October 17th. Looking to improve their record, NCU entered the contest with a record of [Record]. The Rams showed flashes of strong play throughout the match, but Martin Luther ultimately came away with the victory, defeating NCU 26-28, 16-25, 10-25.

Set 1: 26-28

NCU looked to make an early statement as the match got underway. Gabbie Ruzek provided an offensive spark with two kills, while Maia Scheffler helped keep the Rams competitive with a string of aces. The two teams battled through several ties, but Martin Luther found momentum late in the set. NCU was unable to close the match, falling 26-28.

Set 2: 16-25

Looking to respond in the second set, the Rams worked to find consistency on both sides of the net. Autumn Kaczmarek contributed with an opening kill. Despite a late comeback effort, Martin Luther took advantage of offensive pressure to secure the set, 16-25.

Set 3: 10-25

With the match on the line, NCU looked to extend play and shift the momentum. The Rams fought back from an early deficit, led by Alexis Alms, who recorded a block. Martin Luther continued to apply pressure, but NCU stayed within reach through team effort. In the end, the Rams fell 10-25, giving Martin Luther the match victory..

Match Highlights

The Rams were led offensively by Gabbie Ruzek, who finished with six kills, followed by Autumn Kaczmarek with six kills and 1 block. From the service line,Tatum Olson recorded two aces, while Maia Scheffler led defensively with 17 digs.

As a team, NCU finished with 23 kills, 5 aces, 2 blocks, 21 assists, and 49 digs.

Looking Ahead

The Rams will have an opportunity to regroup and refocus as they prepare for their next matchup against Crown on Friday, October 23rd at North Central University. First serve is scheduled for 7 PM.