Lauryn Hilger put down a match-high 14 kills in leading 12th-ranked Northwestern to a 3-0 sweep over No.9 Midland in a GPAC match-up played this afternoon at the Bultman Center. The Red Raiders earned their third consecutive win and improved to 10-2 in the GPAC, 19-5 overall. Midland drops to 10-2 in conference action, 18-4 overall. 

Northwestern dominated play at the net, totaling 10 blocks and hitting 23% compared to 11% for Midland. Hilger reached double figures for the 22nd time this season, totaling 14 kills, nine digs and two aces. Josie Blankespoor added seven successful attacks in 12 attempts, hitting 33% over the three-set match. Makenzie Fink added six kills and 2.5 blocks while Bekah Horstman accounted for a match-high five blocks, including three solo.

First Set...

An early 5-0 run, behind the serving from Hilger and the blocking by Horstman, put the Red Raiders up for good 6-2. In front 9-4 following a kill by Blankespoor, Fink and Ann Pater served six of the next seven points as the Red Raiders built up a 15-5 advantage. Northwestern won set point on a kill from Emily Van Ginkel, 25-17, as the Red Raiders held down the Midland attack to 3%.

Second Set...

Northwestern opened up a 4-1 lead early in set two and leading by four (14-10), scored six of the next seven points for a commanding 20-11 edge. The teams traded points for the rest of the set as Coach Van Den Bosch's squad took a 2-0 set lead after kills by Fink and Blankespoor.

Third Set...

Unlike the first two sets, Midland started fast in the third, opening up a 5-2 lead. Northwestern rallied with a 6-3 run to come back and tie the set at eight, relying on the strong serving from Sydney Martin. Still tied at 12, the Warriors pulled in front by as many as five and led 20-16 to force an NW timeout. A kill from Fink followed by four kills by Hilger scored five of the next seven points as the Red Raiders stormed back to get within one, 22-21. A kill from Midland's Jenny Bair put the Warriors back up two but Northwestern scored the final four points on Midland errors, set up by the serving of Lacey Wacker.

Final Numbers...

Northwestern hit better than Midand in the first two sets; the Warriors had the slight edge in attack percentage in the third, 18% - 13%

Lacey Wacker put up 25 assists; Emily Strasser totaled eight digs; Northwestern went a perfect 100% in serve receive for the match.

Maggie Hiatt led Midland with 10 kills.