WAVERLY, Iowa – The Wartburg College volleyball team (9-5 overall, 1-0 A-R-C) delivered in dramatic fashion Friday night inside Levick Arena, taking down No. 25-ranked Carthage in a five-set battle. 

The win marked the Knights' first victory over a ranked opponent since 2023, their first ranked win at home since 2022, and their first triumph over Carthage since 1988—snapping a 13-match skid against the Firebirds. 

Whitney Klyn powered the Orange and Black with a team-high 12 kills, recording her fifth double-double of the season. Anna Sash added 10 kills for her seventh double-digit effort, while Peyton Robinson anchored the defense with 21 digs and a season-best five aces. At the net, Wartburg stuffed 11 Firebird attacks. 

The Knights set the tone early, edging Carthage 25-23 in the opening set behind clutch kills from Klyn, Sash, and Kaylee Koudelka. The Firebirds answered with a 25-19 second-set win before using a 9-0 run to control the third, 25-15. 

Down 2-1, Wartburg refused to fold. A surge fueled by three straight Klyn kills ignited the Knights in set four, where a raucous Levick Arena crowd pushed them to a 25-19 win to force a decisive fifth set. 

Carthage jumped out 4-1, but Wartburg's fight swung the momentum. Aspen Falk delivered back-to-back aces to give the Knights a 9-7 edge, and from there, Wartburg never looked back, closing out the Firebirds to secure a statement 3-2 victory in front of the home crowd.  

UP NEXT
The Knights return to Levick Arena on Saturday, Sept. 27, opening day two of the Wartburg Invitational with a 9:30 a.m. matchup against Augsburg University.