ANDREW BRIDGEWATER STAFF WRITER
Wartburg’s volleyball team lost three out of four matches in the Border Battle on Friday and Saturday at Loras College.
The contest pits teams from the Minnesota and Iowa to see which state can come out on top.
The Knights lost their first match on Friday to the No. 6-ranked University of St. Thomas.
The Tommies defeated the Knights 25-16, 25-22 and 25-16.
The Knights would lose again in straights sets against another top twenty team in Concordia College of Moorhead.
The Cobbers, ranked No. 17, beat the Knights 25-20, 25-21, 25-23.
Wartburg would start play on Saturday with a victory against the Golden Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus College.
The Knights won in four sets: 25-21, 26-24, 23-25 and 25-16.
“This was the toughest weekend of the season. We had to get back into game mode,” head coach Jennifer Walker said.
However, the Knights would lose their final match of the border battle series.
The Knights lost to No. 19-ranked College of St. Benedict. The Blazers defeated the Knights 25-12, 25-23 and 25-16.
Britlyn Sieck was a bright spot for the Knights as she had 53 kills, a .297 attack percentage and three blocks.
Her performance during the tournament earned Sieck all-tournament team honors.
“She is seeing the court better and hitting the ball well. She was ready to go after coming off an injury,” Walker said.
The weekend matches drop the Knights record to below .500 at 9-10.
The Knights return to Iowa Conference play putting their 3-0 conference record on the line against the Buena Vista Beavers.
“It should be a good match. We are excited to be back home,” Walker said.
The match starts Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Levick Arena.
Photo: Nicole Beer delivers an attack against Gustavus Adolphus in Dubuque during Saturday's Border Battle. Photo by Andrew Nostvick