Makenize Fink floored 16 kills and Bekah Horstman contributed nine kills and two blocks in leading No.8 Northwestern to a 3-0 win (25-21, 26-24, 25-21) over #23 McPherson (Kan.) in a pool H match played tonight at the 2018 NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The Red Raiders improve to 25-8 on the year and 1-1 in pool play heading into Thursday's match against No.9 Rocky Mountain (Mont.). 

Northwestern hit 31% for the match, led by the duo of Fink and Horstman who both posted hitting efficiencies better than 50%. Lauryn Hilger recorded her 15th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs and Emily Van Ginkel assisted on seven blocks to go with five kills. The Red Raiders totaled 11 blocks over the three sets, led by their middles (Van Ginkel and Horstman).

First Set: Northwestern  25            McPherson  21

Down 10-8, Northwestern used a 4-0 run to pull ahead for good in the first set led by Fink, Horstman and Hilger who all posted kills during the surge. With the Bulldogs within one (15-14), Northwestern put the set away with three consecutive points on kills from Hilger and Van Ginkel followed by an ace serve from Ann Pater. The teams traded points thereafter, resulting in a 25-21 win. The Red Raiders hit a match-best .500 in the first set, totaling 18 kills in 30 attack against just three errors.

Second Set:  Northwestern  26            McPherson  24

Northwestern used a 9-2 run to rally from an early five-point deficit to take a 12-10 lead. Van Den Bosch's squad extended their advantage to five (18-13) on kills from Hilger and Horstman only to have McPherson storm back with a 7-1 run to retake the lead 20-19. Trailing 24-22 and facing set point, Fink and Hilger brought Northwestern back, combining for three straight kills and then forcing McPherson into an attack error to win set two, 26-24. 

Third Set:        Northwestern  25                McPherson  21

The Red Raiders led for nearly the entirety of the third set, riding the stellar play of Fink, who put down three straight kills to put her team in front 17-13. McPherson battled back to within one, using a 3-0 run, but Josie Blankespoor put down a kill to begin a 4-0 spurt for the Red Raiders as they went on to win 25-21.

By the Numbers...

Northwestern hit better than McPherson in all three sets and totaled a 31% kill efficiency for the match; McPherson hit 15%

The Red Raiders had a big edge blocking (11-6); McPherson had the advantage in aces (9-4); Pater recorded two of the Red Raider aces

Lacey Wacker turned in her ninth double-double with 41 assists and 11 digs

Emily Strasser led the backrow play with 15 digs, one of three NW players in double figures (Hilger 12, Wacker 11)

Lexi Kite put down a match-high 17 kills, the only McPherson player in double figures