Game Time...No.3 Northwestern College plays host to No.5 Hastings in a key GPAC match-up between first place teams this weekend at the Bultman Center. First serve of the varsity match-up is scheduled for 5pm. Both teams are 13-1 in conference play with two matches left in the regular season. Northwestern owns a 26-2 overall record and Hastings is 21-1 overall. 

Follow the game live via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch Now!  or listen live to the match via KSOU radio: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern owns a one-game advantage in the all-time series against the Broncos, 29-28, dating back to the 1991 season. 

Last Time vs Hastings...Northwestern defeated Hastings in five sets, 25-21, 23-25, 15-25, 25-20, 15-11, in a match played at Hastings, Neb. on Sept. 30. Both teams were ranked at the time (Northwestern-11, Hastings-1). The Red Raiders had the advantage in hitting percentage (.258-.132) and blocks (11-10) while Hastings had the edge in ace serves (11-5). Anna Kiel put down a match-high 19 kills and both Makenzie Fink (14) and A.J. Horstman (12) were also in double figures. Lacey Wacker lofted up 55 assists and totaled 12 digs, one of four Red Raiders with 10+ digs (Karsyn Winterfeld-11, Fink-13, Horstman-11). 

Hastings was led by Cassidy Ostrand with 11 kills and Katie Placke added nine kills, 24 assists and two aces. 

Scouting Reports...

    No.5 Hastings College Broncos: 13-1 (T1st), 21-1    Head Coach: Matt Buttermore (6th year) 

The Broncos have won seven consecutive matches heading into the weekend, defeating Midland (2x), College of Saint Mary, Concordia, Mount Marty, Morningside and Dordt. They are tied with Northwestern at the top of the GPAC standings with a 13-1 record, 21-1 overall.

Buttermore is in his sixth season as head coach, coming over to the Broncos after a successful stint as assistant at Bellevue. Buttermore, a two-time GPAC coach of the year, was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 2016 after leading the Broncos to the national championship with a 33-3 overall record. He returns seven rotation players and a total of 12 players from last year's team.

By the Numbers: (GPAC Rank/NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Kills/Set:                  12.9 (3rd)
Hitting Percentage: .249 (3rd)
Aces:                         159 (2nd)
Digs:                         14.8 (8th)
Blocks/Set                 2.8 (1st/1st)

Individual Leaders: (GPAC Rank/NAIA-if top 10)
Katie Placke (All-American, 3x All-Conference): 3.3 kills/set (8th), .344% (3rd), 5.4 assists/set, 50 blocks
Casey Krolikowski-2.4 kills/set, .169%, 2.6 digs/set, 41 blocks
Andrea LaVerne (All-Conference)-2 kills/set, .374 %, 1.3 blocks/set (2nd/9th)
Lucy Skoch-1.34 blocks/set (1st/5th)
Emily Filsinger-42 aces (4th)
Jill Bax (All-American, 3x All-Conference)-29 aces, 4.4 digs/set (6th)

 No. 3 Northwestern College: 13-1 (T1st), 26-2    Head Coach-Kyle Van Den Bosch (13th year)

The Red Raiders have won four straight matches, earning wins over Concordia, Briar Cliff, No.9 Midland and College of Saint Mary. They are tied with No.4 Hastings for first place in the GPAC at 12-1 with three matches left in the regular season. Northwestern owns a 25-2 overall record, most wins since the 2014 season. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank/NAIA rank-if top 10)
Kills/Set-14 (1st/8th)
Hitting %-.307 (1st/3rd)
Aces-227 (1st/7th)
Digs-13.1 (11th)
Blocks/Set-2.0 (8th)

Key Players:
Anna Kiel-3.6 kills/set (3rd), .390% (2nd/6th), 79 blocks, 2 digs/set
A.J. Horstman (All-Conference in 2016) 2.93 kills/set, .297 (6th), 37 aces (2nd), 63 blocks
Lauryn Hilger (All-American in 2016) 2.6 kills/set, .294% (7th), 27 aces, 2.8 digs/set
Makenzie Fink-2.51 kills/set, .217%, 31 aces (7th), 1.89 digs/set
Josie Blankespoor-1.4 kills/set, .330%, 91 blocks (7th)
Lacey Wacker-11.5 assists/set (1st/2nd), 31 aces (7th), 27 blocks
Karsyn Winterfeld-77 aces (1st/1st), 2.8 digs/set

    Notes:
    Northwestern has had the edge in hitting percentage in all but two matches

    Red Raiders have had more aces than opponent in all but five matches

    Hilger is the 14th player all-time with 1,000 career kills, first player since Karlie Schut (2012-15)

    Winterfeld has the third most ace serves in 2001 and ninth most all-time in a single season