No.5 Northwestern College powered past No.21 Bellevue 3-1 (29-27, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19) in a pool E matchup played tonight at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Red Raiders improve to 30-4 on the season, 2-0 in pool E, and have guaranteed a spot in the championship round of 16 on Friday morning. Bellevue drops to 29-13 on the year, 0-2 in pool play.
Four Northwestern players hit for double figures, led by
A.J. Horstman and
Lauryn Hilger who both recorded 15 kills and 13 digs.
Anna Kiel pounded down 12 kills and totaled 10 digs and
Makenzie Fink added 10 kills and eight digs.
Lacey Wacker put up 51 assists and directed a Red Raider offense that hit .228 for the match.
Key Moments...
Northwestern and Bellevue traded points in the first set until, with the score tied at eight, the Bruins went on the first substantial run of the match to go up 17-12 after a kill by Hope Lambrecht. Still down five (22-17), a couple of Bellevue errors followed by a kill from Hilger put Northwestern back within striking distance, 22-20. Bellevue came back, and after a kill by Mikaylah Gillespie, served for the set at 24-21. Faced with a consecutive set points, Northwestern rallied, beginning with a double block by
Josie Blankespoor and Fink to start a 4-0 run that put the Red Raiders in front 25-24 and serving for the set. The teams once again traded points and with the score tied at 27, Northwestern earned the final two points on a kill from Kiel followed by an ace serve by Horstman to take set one, 29-27.
With the score tied for the 11th and final time at 15 in set two, Bellevue began a decisive 8-2 run, finished off with a Gillespie ace serve, to even the match with a 25-21 win.
Consecutive kills by Fink put Northwestern up early (8-4) in set three before a 5-0 Bellevue run, sparked by the serving of Maddie Squires, put the Bruins up 9-8. The teams traded sideouts over the next stretch, until, with the score tied at 17, Northwestern closed with an 8-3 run to take the set, 25-18. Successful attacks by Fink, Blankespoor and Horstman helped finish off the Bruins in set three.
Using the momentum from their third set win, Northwestern built up an 8-3 advantage in the final frame and never trailed in earning a 25-19 win to take the match.
By the Numbers...
Northwestern hit 23% for the match and held Bellevue to 11%, well below its season average; this is the 25th match that the Red Raiders have held an opponent
to below 20% kill efficiency and the 30th match where Northwestern has outhit its opponent
The Red Raiders put down 60 kills, fourth most this season (Corban-75, Buena Vista-72 and Hastings-64)
Northwestern had the advantage in blocks in its second straght match, 11-6;
Josie Blankespoor was in on five blocks to lead the Red Raiders; both Horstman and
Kiel totaled 2.5.
Four Red Raiders had a double-double; Horstman, Hilger, Kiel and Wacker; Hilger and Horstman share team high honors with six double-doubles, followed by
Wacker with five and Kiel with four
Red Raiders totaled six aces, led by Wacker with two
Northwestern advances out of pool play for the sixth time under coach Van Den Bosch (2007-09, 2013-14)
Bellevue was led by Mikaylah Gillespie and Michaela Gardner with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
