No.5 Northwestern College dropped a four-set match to No.12 College of Idaho in the final pool E match-up played this evening at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. Both teams advance out of pool play and into the round of 16 that begins on Friday morning, Dec. 1. 

The Red Raiders finish pool play with a 2-1 record and move into the round of 16 with a 30-5 overall record. They will play No.6 Westmont (Calif.), the pool F winner, on Friday at 3:45pm. College of Idaho, unbeaten in pool E, will be paired against #12 Midland on Friday morning at 11:15am.

Makenzie Fink and Anna Kiel led Northwestern with 11 kills each and Lacey Wacker put up 34 assists to go with a career-high 19 digs. The Red Raiders hit .165 over the four sets and held a 9-7 advantage in total blocks. 

How It Happened...

Northwestern and College of Idaho traded points early but the Yotes used an 11-3 run to take control in the first set. Hitting an impressive 47% in the opener, C. of Idaho went on for the 25-14 win.

Set two began much like the first as the score was tied at every number until 7-7; a 5-2 surge put the Lady Yotes in front 12-9, a lead that Northwestern could not overcome. College of Idaho held its largest lead (21-15) later but the Red Raiders stormed back, and, following a block by A.J. Horstman and Anna Kiel, made it a two-point game 24-22. 

Northwestern led from start to finish in set three, opening up an early 8-4 lead after kills by Josie Blankespoor, Fink and Kiel. Still with a four-point lead (14-10), the Red Raiders used a 5-1 run to pull away from College of Idaho, sparked by an ace serve by Hilger and another kill from Kiel. Hilger finished of the Yotes with a kill on set point, winning 25-18.

Much like the previous two sets, the teams traded points most of the way and neither team able to string more than two points together. A kill by Fink gave Northwestern its final lead (9-8) but the set remained close as an attack error by the Yotes put the score at 17-17. College of Idaho put the match away behind the play of Jackie Van Vliet, who scored four of the final eight points for the Yotes on three kills and a block.

By the Numbers...

Northwestern was outhit for the first time at the championship; College of Idaho hit 20% compared to 17% by the Red Raiders

For the third straight match, the Red Raiders had the advantage in blocking (9-7)

The Red Raiders totaled 69 digs, third highest total of the season; four players were in double figures led by Wacker with 19, Horstman with 12, Winterfeld with 11 and Fink with 10

Fink and Kiel posted double figure kills for the second consecutive match; Kiel leads the team with 28 matches in double figures; Fink has 15

Winterfeld totaled 10+ digs for the 14th time this season

College of Idaho was led by Jackie Van Vliet with 18 kills, one of four Lady Yotes players in double figures; Alaina Slater added 12 and both Ashley Pagan and Taylor Alexander put down 10

The Lady Yotes turned in championship-best 74 digs