Game Time...The middle of a three-match road trip takes place Friday night at 12th-ranked Northwestern is set to play College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Neb. First serve at the Lied Fitness Center is scheduled for 7:30pm.

Northwestern, 7-2 (3rd) in the GPAC and 16-5 overall, will try to start a new win streak while College of Saint Mary, 2-6 (8th) in the GPAC, 12-11 overall, goes for its third consecutive win.

Follow the match live, via the NWC webcast, at this link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern has won the last seven match-ups in the rivalry and leads the rivalry all-time 10-5, dating back to the 1991 season. The Red Raiders earned a 3-0 sweep against CSM last year in Omaha, Neb.

Scouting Reports...

    College of Saint Mary Flames: 2-6 (T8th), 12-11 overall        Head Coach: Rick Pruett (2nd year)

The Flames head into Friday night on a two-match win streak, defeating both Briar Cliff and Mount Marty last weekend. They are currently tied with Doane and Dakota Wesleyan for eighth place in the GPAC standings with a 2-6 record, 12-11 overall. 

Pruett is in his second year as the Flames head coach, coming to CSM after a successful stint in the same role for Dakota Valley High School. Pruett is also the director of the Midwest Volleyball Power and has previously been the head coach at Morningside. 

By the Numbers (Conference Rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Kills/Game: 12.8 (4th)
        Hitting %: .193% (9th)
        Aces: 119 (7th)
        Digs/Set: 15.7 (5th)
        Blocks/Set: 2.1 (7th)

     Top Players (Conf / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Dani Carlson (2x All-GPAC) 3.3 kills/set (7th), .255%, 60 blocks
        Payton Robley (HM All-GPAC) 2.9 kills/set, 29 aces (10th), 3.1 digs/set
        Makenna Freeman  2.3 kills/set, 19 aces, 2.5 digs/set
        Alexis Petry  5.7 assists/set, 17 aces, 2 digs/set
        Augusta Sinclair  3.6 digs/set

#12 Northwestern Red Raiders: 7-2 (3rd), 16-5            Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (14th year)

Northwestern had its six-match win streak snapped last time out, falling to Morningside in five sets Tuesday night in Sioux City. Lauryn Hilger, Josie Blankespoor and Makenzie Fink all floored double figures in kills for Van Den Bosch's squad. The Red Raiders are currently third in the GPAC with a 7-2 record, 16-5 overall, with seven matches left in the regular season. They moved up to 12th in this week's edition of the NAIA Coaches' poll.  

By the Numbers (Conference Rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Kills/Game: 14.3 (1st / 2nd)
        Hitting %: .282% (1st / 5th)
        Aces: 133 (2nd)
        Digs/Set: 13.7 (12th)
        Blocks/Set: 1.9 (8th)

     Top Players (Conf / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Lauryn Hilger (All-American, 3x all-conference) - 4.6 kills/set (1st / 3rd), .337 (2nd), 33 aces (1st), 2.7 digs/set
        Makenzie Fink (All-Conference) - 2.6 kills/set, .255%, 25 aces (8th), 1 dig/set
        Bekah Horstman - 1.6 kills/set, .368%, 60 blocks
        Emily Van Ginkel - 1.8 kills/set, .259%, 50 blocks
        Josie Blankespoor (All-Conference) - 2.4 kills/set, .209%, 23 blocks
        Lacey Wacker (All-Conference) - 11.8 assists/set, 16 aces, 2 digs/set
        Emily Strasser - 22 aces, 3.8 digs/set