KNIGHTS TRIANGULAR | Saturday, Sept. 26 | Waverly, IA
Wartburg vs Saint Mary's (MN) | 10:00 a.m.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
Wartburg vs Concordia (WI) | 2:00 p.m.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
WAVERLY, Iowa -- The Wartburg College volleyball team (9-5 overall) looks to extend its six-match winning streak when it hosts the Knights Triangular Saturday, Sept. 26, inside Levick Arena.

The Knights open the day against Saint Mary's University (Minn.) (8-5) at 10 a.m. Concordia University Wisconsin (7-4) and Saint Mary's will meet at noon before Wartburg closes the triangular against the Falcons at 2 p.m.

Knights Triangular
Saturday, Sept. 26 | Levick Arena | Waverly, Iowa

10 a.m. — Wartburg vs. Saint Mary's University (Minn.)
Noon — Concordia University Wisconsin vs. Saint Mary's University (Minn.)
2 p.m. — Wartburg vs. Concordia University Wisconsin
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saint Mary's: Wartburg owns a 15-9 all-time record against the Cardinals and has won the last four meetings. Last season, the Knights earned a four-set victory at Saint Mary's in Winona, Minnesota. Wartburg swept the Cardinals the last time they visited Levick Arena in 2021.

Concordia Wisconsin: Saturday's match will mark the fourth meeting between Wartburg and Concordia Wisconsin. The Knights have won all three previous matchups, including a five-set victory in Mequon, Wisconsin, in 2017. Wartburg's only previous home match against the Falcons came in 2016, when the Knights earned a sweep.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Wartburg swept all three opponents at the Loras Invitational, defeating Macalester College, Lawrence University and Edgewood College. The Knights continued their winning ways Tuesday with a victory over Grinnell College at home. The current six-match winning, and sweep streak, is Wartburg's longest since the 2022 season.

KNIGHTS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Ashlynn Hodges leads the Knights with 179 kills this season, ranking second in the American Rivers Conference and 10th nationally. She has recorded those kills while hitting .222 through 53 sets.

Freshman setter Alexa Buhman ranks second in NCAA Division III with 468 assists, trailing only Alexis Kammerer of the University of Dubuque, who has 574. Buhman is also making her mark in the Wartburg record book. Sarah Olsen holds the program's single-season record with 1,631 assists in 2003.
 
WARTBURG SINGLE-SEASON ASSISTS
1. 1631 - Sarah Olsen (143 sets) - 2003
2. 1535 - Angie Hulse (131 sets) - 2002
3. 1288 - Traci Robinson (124 sets) - 2006
4. 1269 - Ramey Sieck (132 sets) - 2012
5. 1253 - Angie Hulse (105 sets) - 2001
6. 1249 - Ramey Sieck (135 sets) - 2013
7. 1218 - Britney Hermsen (138 sets) - 2009
8. 1127 - Claire Marsh (108 sets) - 2021
9. 1117 - Lindsay Murphy (125 sets) - 2005
10. 1106 - Sarah Nederhoff (102 sets) – 1998
 
Aspen Falk has delivered 27 service aces, leading the A-R-C and ranking 41st nationally. Falk is just four aces shy of her career high of 31. As a team, Wartburg ranks second in the conference with 51 service aces.

At the net, Anna Sash has recorded a conference-leading 43 total blocks through 53 sets, ranking 38th nationally. Her total includes 25 block assists and 18 solo blocks.

Wartburg leads the A-R-C in two team blocking categories:
Total blocks: 101.0, ninth nationally
Blocks per set: 1.91, 58th nationally

AROUND THE A-R-C
With conference play approaching, Buena Vista sits atop the American Rivers Conference standings with an 11-0 overall record. Dubuque follows at 12-2, while Central is 9-4.

Wartburg enters the weekend at 9-5, followed by Simpson and Nebraska Wesleyan at 6-4, Loras at 5-8 and Coe at 3-9.

MEET THE KNIGHTS
Wartburg returns 16 players from last season while welcoming two junior college transfers and nine freshmen.

The Knights' senior class includes Peyton Robinson of Lisbon, Iowa; Alexa Melcher of Elk River, Minnesota; Leah Hayungs of Orange City, Iowa; and Sophie Williams of Plainfield, Illinois.

Wartburg added junior college transfers Emma Liechti of Ankeny, Iowa, and Emily Naughton of Raymond, Iowa.

Liechti appeared in 80 matches during her two-year career at Des Moines Area Community College, recording 410 kills while hitting .251 and adding 299 total blocks. The All-Region middle blocker joins the Knights following a decorated junior college career.
Naughton played in 44 matches as a middle hitter at Kirkwood Community College, totaling 99 kills on a .280 hitting percentage, 51 digs and 82 blocks.

The Knights' nine-member freshman class includes Alexa Buhman, Rachel Borwick, Brenna Baumgardner, Keely Kauten, Lucy Maassen, Karsyn Michael, McKenzie Becker, Kruiz Ewoldt and Lillian Frazer.

LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON
Head coach DeAnn Akins enters her second season leading the Wartburg volleyball program after guiding the Knights to a 15-12 record in 2025. Wartburg advanced to the first round of the American Rivers Conference Tournament before falling 3-1 to third-seeded Simpson College.

The Knights return AVCA All-Region and All-Conference middle hitter Anna Sash, who led the team with 259 kills and 122.0 blocks last season. Sash started all 27 matches and recorded 52 solo blocks, the third-highest single-season total in program history.

Wartburg averaged 16.2 digs, 11.3 kills, 10.4 assists, 2.1 service aces and 1.9 blocks per set in 2025.

Kaylee Koudelka and Sash combined for 493 kills, while Robinson led the Knights with 470 digs and 44 service aces.

Off the court, Wartburg earned its 12th consecutive AVCA Team Academic Award after posting a 3.61 cumulative grade-point average.
 
A-R-C PRESEASON POLL
1. Dubuque – 48 (7)
2. Central – 37
3. Wartburg – 32
4. Neb. Wesleyan – 31
T5. Coe – 27
T5. Simpson – 27
7. Loras – 12
8. Buena Vista - 8