Northwestern College picked up its fifth straight win with a 3-0 sweep over Morningside (27-25, 25-18, 25-23) in a GPAC match-up played tonight in Sioux City, Iowa. The Red Raiders improve to 13-1 in the GPAC, 26-2 overall, with two matches left in the regular season. Morningside slips to 8-6 in conference play, 16-11 overall. 

Makenzie Fink put down a match-high 13 kills, hitting .333 over the three sets, and added 11 digs for her third double-double of the season. Lauryn Hilger added nine kills and both A.J. Horstman and Anna Kiel contributed seven kills each. Horstman led the backrow with a career-high 17 digs and Josie Blankespoor totaled 3.5 blocks. 

Northwestern Overcomes Two Set Points In First Set Win

The Red Raiders scored seven of the final nine points to earn a come-from-behind 27-25 first set win. Trailing 24-22, Northwestern scored three straight points on a kill by Lacey Wacker and consecutive miscues by the Mustangs for a 25-24 lead. Morningside tied the set after a kill by Emma Gerber but Fink followed with a kill and the Red Raiders won set point on a Morningside error. Early on, Northwestern led by seven (17-10) before Morningside came storming back with a 13-2 run.

Red Raiders Pull Away Late In Set Two Win

Northwestern closed the second set with a 12-5 run for a 25-18 win and 2-0 sets lead. Tied at 14, a kill by Hilger began a 3-0 run to put the Red Raiders in front for good while Kiel added a kill followed by an ace serve to put NW up 24-17. 

Northwestern Hits 35% in Final Set Win

The Red Raiders hit a match-best .351 to win a tight final set 25-23. The set was tied nine times, the final one at 22-22, before a ball handling error put NWC up for good 23-22. A block by Horstman gave the Red Raiders match point and, following a Morningside sideout, Kiel scored the final point on a kill to give the Red Raiders the match.

By the Numbers...

Northwestern hit .176 for the match compared to .060 by the Mustangs; Lacey Wacker put up 31 assists

The Red Raiders held a 12-7 advantage in total blocks, led by Blankespoor (3.5) and both Horstman and Kiel with three each.

Karsyn Winterfeld served two of the Red Raiders five aces

Krista Zenk led Morningside with 10 kills in 33 attacks, hitting .212 for the match