Game Time... 16th-ranked Northwestern goes for its second straight GPAC win as they play host to Mount Marty for a conference match-up on Tuesday night. First serve at the Bultman Center is scheduled for 7:30pm. Northwestern is 2-1 in GPAC play, 11-4 overall while Mount Marty is 0-5 in the conference, 3-9 overall. 

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

Listen to the game live, via the KSOU broadcast, at this link: Listen Now! 

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 42-1 since the 1995 season, winning 34 consecutive matches against the Lancers. The Red Raiders earned a 3-0 sweep over Mount Marty last year.

Scouting Reports...

    Mount Marty Lancers: 0-5 (GPAC), 3-9 overall            Head Coach: Frank Hebenstreit (4th year)

The Lancers snapped their six-match losing streak last time out, earning a 3-0 win over Central Christian (Kan.) last weekend. They also own wins over Dickinson State (N.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) in non-conference play. Mount Marty has lost to three ranked GPAC teams (Midland, Dordt, Jamestown) and to Dakota Wesleyan and Concordia, all by a 3-0 score.

Hebenstreit is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Lancers, coming over after a successful 18-year stint as the head coach at Norfolk High School. He returns five starters and 10 players from a 2017 team that finished in 10th place in the GPAC with a 1-15 record, 9-19 overall. They were picked to finish 12th in the GPAC preseason coaches' poll.

    By the Numbers (Conference Rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Kills/Game: 9.7 (12th)
        Hitting %: .076 (12th)
        Aces: 61 (9th)
        Digs/Set: 15.9 (6th)
        Blocks/Set: 1.7 (11th)

     Top Players (Conf / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Elizabeth Watchorn (returning starter)  2.8 kills/set, .127%, 12 blocks, 3.6 digs/set, 21 aces (2nd)
        Mikaela Ahrendt (returning starter)  1.9 kills/set, 26 blocks
        Caitlin Dirks  1.5 kills/set, 40 blocks
        Maura Lysne (All-Conference) 4.7 digs/set (5th)
        Alex Bargstadt  4.2 assists/set, 1.4 digs/set

    #16 Northwestern College Red Raiders:  2-1 (GPAC), 11-4 overall        Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (14th year)

The Red Raiders have won five of their last six matches, two of three in conference play, for an 11-4 overall record. Last weekend, they swept a ranked Jamestown team in a key GPAC match-up played in North Dakota.

By the Numbers (Conference Rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Kills/Game: 14.1 (1st / 6th)
        Hitting %: .276% (1st / 7th)
        Aces: 108 (1st)
        Digs/Set: 14.1 (11th)
        Blocks/Set: 1.9 (9th)

     Top Players (Conf / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Lauryn Hilger (3x all-conference)  4.4 kills/set (2nd / 9th), 28 aces (1st), 2.7 digs/set
        Makenzie Fink (All-Conference)  2.6 kills/set, .243%, 20 aces (T6th), 1.2 digs/set
        Emily Van Ginkel  1.8 kills/set, .243%, 36 blocks
        Bekah Horstman  1.6 kills/set, .395%, 40 blocks
        Lacey Wacker (All-Conference / GPAC Freshman of Year)  11.5 assists/set (1st /2nd), 12 aces, 2.2 digs/set
        Emily Strasser  16 aces, 3.9 digs/set (8th)