A.J. Horstman put down a match-high 17 kills in leading Northwestern to a 3-1 win (25-18, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19) over Morningside in a GPAC match-up played tonight at the Bultman Center. The win, NWC's third in the last four matches, improves the Red Raiders to 9-6 in the GPAC, 17-16 overall, with one match left in the regular season. 

Morningside drops to 7-8 in the GPAC, 18-12 overall. 

Horstman led the Red Raider offense with 17 kills, hitting .289 from the pins. Lauryn Hilger put down 13 kills and Jessica Jensen added 10, giving Northwestern three players in double figures. Jessa Doom lofted up 49 assists and directed a Red Raider offense that hit .240 for the match.

Red Raiders Sharp in First Set

Northwestern grabbed the lead early and held a 2-5 point advantage for most of the first set. With the Mustangs within two (17-15), the Red Raiders closed on an 8-3 run, capped by a successful attack by Horstman.

Morningside Dominates Second Set

The Mustangs scored seven consecutive points and opened up a big lead in gaining a 25-14 set two win. Northwestern never got closer than six (15-9) and was limited to a .000 kill efficiency while Morningside hit .364.

Fast Start Sparks Third Set Win

Northwestern seized the momentum back with an 8-3 run at the onset of the third. Morningside fought back and tied it at 16 and was within one (19-18) but back-to-back kills by Jensen put the hosts back in front for good, winning 25-21.

Red Raiders Pull Away Late in Final Set

The teams traded points for the first half of set four until Northwestern went on a 6-2 run, getting kills from Horstman, Vink and Hilger, for a 15-11 advantage. The Mustangs came back to get within one (18-17) but another kill by Vink gave Northwestern the momentum it needed to close with a 7-2 run and win the match.

Notes:

Hilger has hit for double figures in a team-leading 28 matches; Jensen (17) and Horstman (16).

Caley Vink matched her career-high with eight kills and led the Red Raiders with two blocks.

Three Red Raiders, Jessa Doom (21/21), Brooke Van Gorp (17/17) and Casey Perez (10/10), were perfect from the service line

Jillian Estes led the backrow with a match-high 20 digs, the fifth match the senior posted 20+ digs.

Jayde Bergmann led Morningside with 13 kills; Ashley Vande Stouwe (11) and Jenn Buyert (11) were also in double figures

Morningside hit .190 for the match