Game Time...Northwestern College returns home to play Concordia on Saturday, Oct. 14 for an afternoon match-up between the two GPAC rivals. First serve is scheduled for 3pm. Northwestern, ranked third in the NAIA, is 8-1 in conference play, 21-2 overall, while Concordia is 0-10 in the GPAC, 5-15 overall. 

Follow the match live via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern is 36-8 all-time against Concordia, dating back to the 1991 season. The Red Raiders are 8-2 over the last 10 match-ups against the Bulldogs, including a 3-1 win earlier this year in Seward, Neb. (16-25, 25-21, 31-29, 25-23). 

Last Time vs Concordia...Anna Kiel recorded 19 kills in leading Northwestern to a four-set win over Concordia earlier this season. A.J. Horstman joined Kiel in double figures with 14 and Lacey Wacker put up 49 assists in directing the Red Raider offense that hit .247 for the match. 

Jenna Habegger and Tara Callahan put down 12 kills each and Kelsey Baarck added 11 kills to lead Concordia. The Bulldogs had the edge in blocks (7-3) and Northwestern had a slight advantage in aces (6-5). 

Scouting Reports...

    Concordia Bulldogs: 0-10 (GPAC), 5-15 overall   Head Coach: Scott Mattera-6th year

Concordia has dropped 10 straight matches, eight to ranked teams, and brings an 0-10 league record to the Bultman Center on Saturday. They are 5-15 overall with wins over Bethany (Kan.), Avila (Mo.), Chadron State (Neb.), York (Neb.) and Missouri Southern State. Most recently, Concordia has lost to Doane (3-0) and Hastings (3-0). 

Mattera is in his sixth season as the head of the Bulldogs volleyball program, owning a 103-94 overall record heading into this season. Mattera guided Concordia to its first ever national touranment appearance in 2015, finishing with a 26-9 overall record, the fifth most wins in program history. Last year, Concordia finished seventh in the GPAC at 6-10, 15-19 overall, losing to Midland in the GPAC Quarterfinals. Six starters return from last year's squad. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank/NAIA rank-if top 10)
Kills/Set-11.4 (10th)
Hitting %-.178 (9th)
Aces-102 (8th)
Digs-13.1 (10th)
Blocks/Set-1.85 (7th)

Key Players:
Alex La Plant-2.56 kills/set, .186 %, 17 aces
Kelsey Baarck-2.22 kills/set, .066 %, 19 blocks
Annie Friesen-1.29 kills/set, .230 %, 55 blocks
Tara Callahan-8.67 assists/set (7th), 17 aces
Jocelyn Garcia (2x All-Conference), 4.5 digs/set

    No.3 Northwestern College: 8-1 (T2nd), 21-2         Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (13th year)

Northwestern College is tied with Dordt for second place in the current GPAC standings at 8-1, 21-2 overall. They dropped their first match in conference play to No.7 Dordt last time out, 3-1, in a match-up played in Sioux Center Wednesday night. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank/NAIA rank-if top 10)
Kills/Set-14.2 (1st/6th)
Hitting %-.318 (1st/3rd)
Aces-192 (1st/5th)
Digs-13 (11th)
Blocks/Set-1.81 (9th)

Key Players:
Anna Kiel-3.7 kills/set (3rd), .409 (1st/4th), 1.9 digs/set, 64 blocks, 19 matches w/ 10+ kills
A.J. Horstman-3.1 kills/set, .317 (6th), 30 aces (4th), 50 blocks, 14 matches w/ 10+ kills
Lauryn Hilger-2.6 kills/set. .294 (7th), 23 aces, 2.9 digs/set    6 matches w/ 10+ kills
Makenzie Fink-2.4 kills/set, .208, 28 aces (6th), 1.9 digs/set, 20 blocks   8 matches w/ 10+ kills
Josie Blankespoor-1.5 kills/set, .372, 62 blocks
Lacey Wacker-11.7 assists/set (1st/1st), 25 aces (9th), 1.4 digs/set
Karsyn Winterfeld-66 aces (1st/1st), 2.8 digs/set; 10 matches w/ 10+ digs