No.3 Northwestern College lost to No.5 Hastings 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 25-16) in a match-up between top five teams played today at the Bultman Center. The Red Raiders slip to 13-2 in conference play, 26-3 overall, with on match left in the regular season. Hastings takes sole possession of first place in the conference standings with a 14-1 record, 22-1 overall. 

Anna Kiel led the Red Raiders with 11 kills and eight digs while Makenzie Fink totaled eight kills, four digs and one block. Lacey Wacker put up 25 assists and directed a Red Raider offense that was limited to a season-low 9% hitting efficiency. Lauryn Hilger (12) and A.J. Horstman (11) were tops in digs. 

Broncos Score Final Two Points in 25-23 First Set Win

Tied at 23 in a back-and-forth first set, Hastings scored the final two points, the last off a kill by Sage Meyer, to take a 1-0 sets lead. Down by as many as four (17-13), Northwestern rallied and eventually tied the set at 23 following consecutive errors by Hastings from the serving of Karsyn Winterfeld. A total of eight ties and two lead changes took place with the largest lead being four points (Hastings) in the opening set. 

Red Raiders Answer With 25-23 Win in Second

Northwestern came out blazing in set two, getting out to a five-point lead early (9-4, 14-9). An ace serve by Hilger followed by a successful attack by Fink put the Red Raiders in front, 20-13, before the Broncos rallied and made it a one-point game, 23-22, on an ace serve by Krolikowski. Northwestern was able to get a sideout with a kill by Horstman and scored the set win after a a kill by Kiel to tie the match. Northwestern hit .304 compared to .185 by the Broncos in set two, the only set that NW had the hitting advantage.

Broncos' Net Play Takes Over In Third

Hastings used a 5-1 blocking advantage, limiting the Red Raiders to a 3% hitting efficiency, to earn a 25-16 win in set three. Northwestern held the early lead (9-5) but Hastings began an 8-1 run to take a 13-10 advantage. The Red Raiders tied it at 14 following back-to-back kills by Kiel but Hastings closed with an 11-2 run, ending with a 4-0 surge by Elise Baumann at the service line.

Big Early Lead Keys Hastings in Fourth Set Win

The Broncos used a 6-0 run to break a 3-3 tie and go on to win the final set 25-16. Jill Bax served six consecutive points, getting kills from Matti Dabovich and two from Meyer, in the decisive run. Northwestern did not get any closer than six (17-11) the rest of the way.

By the Numbers...

Hastings had the advantage in hitting percentage (22% - 9%) and blocks (13-7); both teams totaled five aces for the match.

Kiel registered her 23rd match with 10+ kills

Hilger has 14 matches with 10+ digs and Horstman has six with 10+ digs

Josie Blankespoor led the Red Raiders with three blocks; Hilger, Horstman and Kiel all had one

Winterfeld recorded three of the Red Raiders five aces; tying Jill Zylstra (1995) for eighth place all-time with 80 aces for the season

Katie Placke led all players with 16 kills, followed by Sage Meyer (13) and Casey Krolikowski (11) for the Broncos