No.7 Northwestern split a pair of matches this afternoon to finish 3-1 at the Red Raider Classic. Northwestern dropped a four-set match-up against No.9 Grand View on Saturday morning and then came back with a 3-0 sweep over Presentation (S.D.) in the afternoon.
vs Grand View...
3-1 loss; 25-20, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22
Lauryn Hilger put down a match-high 20 kills to lead the Red Raiders against No. 8 Grand View. Hilger hit better than .300 in posting her second 20+ kill match of the season while also totaling 10 digs for her second double-double of the season.
A 5-1 Grand View run broke a 12-12 tie as the Vikings pulled away late for a 25-20 first set win. Northwestern hit .179 compared to .210 by Grand View in the first frame.
Tied at three early in the second, Northwestern went ahead for good with a mini 3-0 run, behind the serving of
Allison Koehlmoos. The Red Raiders surged ahead by as many as nine (18-9) and hit a match-best .269 (11 kills, 26 attempts).
The teams traded points in third until Northwestern outscored the Vikings 4-1 to take a 17-13 advantage on successive kills by Hilger and
Lacey Wacker. Grand View came back to tie the set at 19 and the score was then tied at 20, 21 and 22 until the Vikings scored the final three points for a 25-22 win.
Facing a must-win fourth set, the Red Raiders stormed out to an 8-2 lead, scoring five straight points behind the serving of Koehlmoos. A successful attack by
Anna Kiel extended the lead to seven (12-5) but Grand View outscored the hosts 10-1 to grab a 15-13 lead. Northwestern made it a one-point game late (22-21) and (23-22) on kills by Kiel and Hilger. Grand View scored the final two points to secure the match.
Northwestern hit .204 for the match compared to .196 by the Vikings.
A.J. Horstman added 12 kills and Kiel put down nine kills and five blocks. Wacker turned in a double-double with 43 assists and 12 digs and Koehlmoos totaled a career-high 10 digs.
vs Presentation...
3-0 win; 27-25, 25-18, 25-17
Three players hit for double figures in the Red Raiders 3-0 win over Presentation. Hilger belted down a match-high 19 kills and hit .567 while both Horstman (13) and
Josie Blankespoor (10) were also in double figures. Wacker put up 47 assists and 11 digs for her second straight double-double.
Northwestern overcame an early 5-1 deficit to overtake the Saints late 27-25. Horstman and Hilger scored consecutive points with the scored knotted at 25.
A 9-4 surge put the Red Raiders in front for good as they won the second set 25-18.
Ann Pater served seven consecutive points, including two aces, as the Red Raiders won the clinching third set, 25-17.
Northwestern hit .433 for the match and totaled four blocks compared to .278 and three blocks by Presentation.
Up Next...Northwestern will host Peru State on Tuesday night at the Bultman Center.