Game Time... The Northwestern College volleyball team makes the long trip north to play GPAC newcomer University of Jamestown in a conference match-up between ranked teams. First serve is scheduled for 5pm. Northwestern, ranked 16th in the NAIA, is 1-1 in the GPAC, 10-4 overall, while the Jimmies are receiving votes in the latest poll and is unbeaten in league play (3-0), 10-1 overall.
Follow the game live, via the Jamestown webcast, at this link:
Watch Now!
The Rivalry...Northwestern is 10-1 all-time against Jamestown and has won four straight in the rivalry. The Red Raiders earned a 3-1 win in 2016, the last time they played. Jamestown's only win was during the 2011 season.
Scouting Reports...
(RV) University of Jamestown: 3-0 (GPAC), 10-1 Head Coach: Jon Hegerle (10th year)
Since losing to Central Methodist on a neutral site on Sept. 1, the Jimmies have won four straight matches, three in conference play, for an unbeaten 3-0 record in the GPAC, 10-1 overall. They have wins over Mount Marty, Dakota Wesleyan and Briar Cliff in the GPAC and also won six straight matches, four against Florida teams, to start the season.
Hegerle returns five starters and seven players from a 2017 team that finished as both the regular and postseason runner-up to Viterbo in the North Star Athletic Conference. They advanced to play in the NAIA National Championship-Final Site to finish with a 23-10 record. Hegerle has to replace three All-Americans that graduated. Jamestown was picked sixth in the GPAC preseason coaches' poll.
By the Numbers (Conference Rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
Kills/Game: 12.8 (6th)
Hitting %: .229 (6th)
Aces: 59 (5th)
Digs/Set: 18.2 (2nd)
Blocks/Set: 2.5 (2nd / 8th)
Top Players (Conf / NAIA rank-if top 10)
Kennedy Conzemius (returning starter) 2.3 kills/set, .243%, 34 blocks (7th)
Anna Holen 2.3 kills/set, .186%
Britta Knudson 2.2 kills/set, .374% (2nd / 9th), 49 blocks (2nd / 7th)
Miranda Lowman 5.7 assists/set, 10 aces
Julina Niemeier - 10 aces, 6.4 digs/set (1st / 6th)
#16 Northwestern College: 1-1 (GPAC), 10-4 Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (14th year)
Northwestern had its four-match win streak snapped last time out, falling to #12 Dordt in four sets, 15-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-19, on Tuesday night in Sioux Center, Iowa. The Red Raiders are 1-1 in the GPAC, 10-4 overall, losing to three ranked teams.
Van Den Bosch, in his 14th season as head coach, is closing in on 400 career wins, owning a 381-112 record during his tenure. He has guided NW teams to six regular season titles, three postseason championships and eight appearances to the NAIA National Tournament. Van Den Bosch returns six starters from a 2017 team that finished as the co-regular season champions at 14-2, 30-6 overall, losing to Westmont (Calif.) in the round of 16 at the national tournament.
By the Numbers (Conference Rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
Kills/Game: 14.1 (1st / 4th)
Hitting %: .269 (1st / 7th)
Aces: 102 (1st)
Digs/Set: 14.2 (10th)
Blocks/Set: 2.0 (9th)
Top Players (Conf / NAIA rank-if top 10)
Lauryn Hilger - All-American, 3x all-conference; 4.3 kills/set (2nd / 10th), .323 (3rd), 2.7 digs/set, 27 aces (1st)
Makenzie Fink - All-Conference; 2.4 kills/set, .214% 18 aces (6th), 1.3 digs/set, 16 blocks
Emily Van Ginkel - 1.8 kills/set, .247%, 36 blocks
Bekah Horstman - 1.7 kills/set, .403%, 39 blocks (10th)
Lacey Wacker - 11.5 assists/set (1st / 2nd), 12 aces, 2.2 digs/set
Emily Strasser - 14 aces, 3.8 digs/set (8th)
