Game Time...14th-ranked Northwestern heads to Mitchell, S.D. for a GPAC match-up against Dakota Wesleyan on Tuesday, Sept. 19. First serve at the Corn Palace is scheduled for 7:30pm. Northwestern is unbeaten in GPAC play (2-0) and is 15-1 overall. Dakota Wesleyan is 1-2 in the conference, 12-6 overall.
Listen to the match live via the KSOU broadcast at the following link:
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All-Time...Northwestern owns a 31-1 all-time advantage in the series against DWU, winning both match-ups last season (3-0 in OC, 3-2 in Mitchell).
Scouting Reports...
Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 1-2 (GPAC), 12-6 overall Head Coach: Lindsey Wilber (4th year)
DWU owns a 1-2 record in conference play, defeating Mount Marty on Sept. 5 and then losing to both Midland and Briar Cliff by 3-0 scores. The Tigers are 12-6 overall and are 3-2 over their last five match-ups.
Wilber is in her fourth season as the Tigers head coach and has guided DWU to more wins each season. Last year, DWU ended the 2016 season with an 18-14 overall record, the first season since 1993 that a Tigers volleyball team finished with a winning record. They were ninth in the GPAC (4-12), just missing out on the postseason conference tournament, and return five starters from last year's squad.
By the Numbers:
.221 hitting percentage (6th in GPAC)
12 kills per set (10th in GPAC)
70 aces (9th in GPAC)
19 digs/set (2nd in NAIA, 1st in GPAC)
1.68 blocks/set (9th in GPAC)
Individual Leaders:
Rebecca Frick: 4.2 kills/set (9th in NAIA, 2nd in GPAC), .250 kill efficiency, 4.3 digs/set (8th in GPAC), 15 aces
Chelsey Heeg: 2.2 kills/set
Sydney Fritz: 1.7 kills/set
Bridgett Knobbe: 9.8 assists/set (6th in GPAC)
Emily Brunsing: 53 blocks
Sara Herman: 4.9 digs/set (8th in NAIA, 1st in GPAC)
No. 14 Northwestern College: 2-0 (GPAC), 15-1 overall Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (13th year)
The Red Raiders have won 12 straight matches and bring a 15-1 overall record into Tuesday night's match-up against DWU. They are 2-0 in GPAC play, defeating No. 5 Dordt in four sets and then going on the road to knock off Concordia, 3-1, last weekend.
By the Numbers:
.329 hitting percentage (3rd in NAIA; 1st in GPAC)
14.4 kills per set (4th in NAIA; 2nd in GPAC)
13.1 assists per set (6th in NAIA; 1st in GPAC)
136 aces (2nd in NAA; 1st in GPAC)
12.95 digs/set
1.76 blocks/set (8th in GPAC)
Individual Leaders:
Anna Kiel: 3.8 kills/set (4th in GPAC), .419 kill efficiency (2nd in NAIA), 1.8 digs/set, 11 aces, 41 blocks
A.J. Horstman: 3.1 kills/set, .349 kill %, 26 aces (5th in GPAC), 26 aces, 35 blocks
Lauryn Hilger: 2.5 kills/set, .296 kill %, 20 aces (10th in GPAC), 3.0 digs/set
Makenzie Fink: 2.4 kills/set, .214 kill %, 18 aces, 1.9 digs/set, 16 blocks
Josie Blankespoor: 1.5 kills/set, .368 kill %, 39 blocks
Lacey Wacker: 12 assists/set (1st in NAIA), 15 aces, 1.3 digs/set
Karsyn Winterfeld: 46 aces (1st in NAIA), 2.8 digs/set
