16th-ranked Northwestern dropped its first conference match of the season, falling to No.12 Dordt in four sets, 15-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-19. Northwestern is now 1-1 in the GPAC, 10-4 overall, while Dordt improves to 1-0 in the conference, 8-4 overall.
Lauryn Hilger hit a match-best .500 and put down a team-best 16 kills over the four sets, her 12th match with double figures in kills.
Bekah Horstman added nine kills and three blocks for the Red Raiders, who hit 22% for the match.
Lacey Wacker recorded her sixth double-double with 39 assists and 10 digs.
Emily Strasser led the back row play with 11 digs and three ace serves.
Set One...
Northwestern scored the first three points and never trailed in its 25-15 first set win. The Red Raiders served six aces and hit .391 compared to .174 by the host Defenders. Hilger and
Josie Blankespoor put down four kills each in the first set.
Set Two...
The momentum turned in the hosts favor as Dordt scored 12 of the first 14 points in set two. The Defenders' lead stayed double digits as they hit better than .350 and limited Northwestern to a kill efficiency.
Set Three...
Northwestern fell behind by five (11-6) early in set three but came back to within three (17-14) after kills by Blankespoor and
Emily Van Ginkel. Dordt pulled away in the end, outscoring the Red Raiders 8-6 to take a 2-1 set lead.
Set Four...
The final set stayed close early until Dordt gradually pulled away to a 16-10 advantage. A kill by Van Ginkel followed by consecutive errors by the Defenders and then an ace serve by
Makenzie Fink brought Northwestern within one, 17-16. Dordt then followed with four straight points to push its lead back to five and the teams traded points the rest of the way as the Defenders won it, 25-19.
By the Numbers...
Northwestern hit .219 compared to .328 by the Defenders; the Red Raiders held the hitting advantage in the first set, Dordt hit better in the final three.
Both teams recorded seven blocks and Northwestern had the advantage in ace serves, 9-6.
Hilger and Strasser totaled three ace serves; Hilger added nine digs.
Ema Altena led Dordt with 16 kills and both Julia Lindbergh and Ally Krommendyk added 10 kills each; Jamie De Jager put up 45 assists and Aubrey Drake totaled 14 digs.
