Lauryn Hilger put down a match-high 11 kills in leading #24 Northwestern to a 3-0 sweep over #9 Vanguard in the Red Raiders final match of day one at the Biola Summer Slam played in La Mirada, Calif. 

Leading 2-0 (25-22, 25-23), the Red Raiders trailed 24-23 and faced set point in the third against the ninth-ranked Lions. Northwestern, however, scored off kills by Andrea Horstman and Jill Vander Plaats to grab a one-point lead, 25-24, and then served an ace to finish off Vanguard, 26-24. 

Horstman recorded nine kills against just one error in 19 attempts and Caley Vink added eight kills in 11 attempts, hitting .636 for the match. 

Northwestern rallied from a five-point deficit (18-13) in set one, outscoring the Lions 12-4 over the final stretch, to win 25-22. Both Vink and Hilger put down to two kills each during the rally. The Red Raiders led early in the second but needed a 5-1 run at the end to win it, 25-23.

Jessa Doom (16 assists) and Madi Arnell (14) guided a Red Raider offense that hit .248 over the three sets. Northwestern held a 7-3 advantage in blocks, led by Vander Plaats with two. Jillian Estes led the backrow with nine digs and Casey Perez served three aces. 

Northwestern was swept by #18 Southern Oregon in the first match, 25-20, 25-20 and 25-15. Both teams struggled at the net, hitting below .200 (NWC-.106, SOU-.197) for the match. Hilger led all players with 14 kills and Horstman put down five. 

Southern Oregon was led by Emma Gasman with eight kills and 3.5 blocks. 

Northwestern will return to the court on Friday where they will play University of Great Falls (Mont.) and Montana Tech.