No.5 Northwestern College had its 2017 season come to an end with a 3-0 loss (25-20, 25-16, 25-17) to sixth-ranked Westmont (Calif.) in the round of 16 at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship played this afternoon in Sioux City, Iowa. 

The Red Raiders close with a 30-6 overall record, finishing with 30+ wins for the 15th time in program history and eighth during head coach Kyle Van Den Bosch's tenure. 

Anna Kiel led Northwestern with eight kills, hitting .208 against the Warriors, and Makenzie Fink put down seven kills in 21 attacks. Both Lauryn Hilger and A.J. Horstman totaled 10 digs to lead the backrow. 

How It Happened...

Northwestern opened up a five-point lead (13-8) following an ace serve by Karsyn Winterfeld; Westmont came back to tie it at 15 and grabbed its first lead at 16-15 after a kill by Cassidy Rea; the Warriors then closed with a 9-5 run to take the first set 25-20; Westmont hit 30% in the opening set compared to 19% for the Red Raiders

Westmont led from start to finish in set two, opening up an 8-4 lead; still a four-point set (14-10), the Warriors outscored Northwestern 11-6 the rest of the way to get the 25-16 win

Facing elimination, Northwestern fell behind 9-1 to Westmont in the third as the Warriors ended with a sweep.


By the Numbers...

Northwestern hit .108 for the match compared to .252 by Westmont; the Warriors finished with five total blocks compared to four by the Red Raiders

The Red Raiders served four aces, two by Horstman; Westmont finished with eight ace serves

Libby Dahlburg led Westmont with 12 kills, followed by Samantha Neely with nine

For the season...

Kiel led the Red Raiders with 28 matches with 10+ kills; the sophomore had five matches with 10+ digs and four double-doubles

Horstman totaled 18 matches with 10+ kills, one match with 20+; the sophomore had 11 matches with double figures in digs; six double-doubles

Fink totaled 15 matches with 10+ kills and six with 10+ digs, four double-doubles

Hilger had 11 matches with 10+ kills, 16 with 10+ digs, 6 double-doubles

Winterfeld had 14 matches with 10+ digs; 87 aces serves ranks seventh-most all-time in  single season at NW

Wacker with six double-doubles;

Blankespoor led Northwestern with 121 blocks, seventh best in the GPAC; one match with 10+ kills