Game Time...Second-ranked Northwestern will make the trip to Yankton, S.D. for a mid-week match-up against Mount Marty. First serve on Wednesday night, Oct. 2, is scheduled for 7:30pm. Northwestern is a perfect 6-0 in the GPAC, 18-0 overall, heading into its only match of the week. Mount Marty is 0-6 in the conference, 7-14 overall. 

Listen live to the match via Sioux County Radio at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 45-1 (since the 1989 season) and has won 37 straight in the series.

Previously This Season...Northwestern hit over .500 in earning a 3-0 sweep over Mount Marty in a GPAC match-up played at the Bultman Center on Sept. 14. 

The Red Raiders hit for a season-best .520, totaling 45 kills in 75 attempts against just six errors. They held a 6-1 advantage in total blocks and served seven aces. 

Anna Wedel was the lone player to post double figure kills, putting down 11 in 19 attempts. A.J. Kacmarynski totaled nine kills, Makenzie Fink seven and both Emily Van Ginkel and Bekah Horstman added five. Lacey Wacker directed the Red Raider offense, putting up 30 assists and serving four aces. Strasser led all backrow players with 13 digs; Wedel added eight.

Mount Marty hit 9% and was led by Gabby Ruth with nine kills. 

Scouting Reports...

    Mount Marty: 0-6 (GPAC), 7-14 overall            Head Coach: Frank Hebenstreit (5th year)

Since defeating York (3-1) on Sept. 17, the Lancers have dropped four straight matches, three of the four within GPAC play, going 1-12 in sets played. They lost to Dordt, Dakota Wesleyan, Dakota State and Briar Cliff. Prior to the win against York, Mount Marty's most recent win was a 3-0 sweep against Bethel (Kan.). 

Hebenstreit is in his fifth season as the Lancers head coach, taking over the program in 2015. He spent 18 years as the head coach at Norfolk High School prior to joining the Lancers staff. Hebenstreit returns five starters, nine players from a 2018 team that went 0-16 in the GPAC, 3-26 overall. They were picked 12th in the conference preseason coaches' poll.

    By the Numbers...(GPAC rank)
    11.3 kills per set (12th)
    .143 hit % (12th)
    91 aces (10th)
    14.04 digs/set (11th)
    1.5 blocks/set (12th)

    Individual Leaders:
    Elizabeth Watchorn (HM All-Conf) - 2.7 kills/set, .168%, 14 blocks, 3.9 digs/set (10th), 25 aces (T5th)
    Mikaela Ahrendt (HM All-Conf) -  2.6 kills/set, .221%, 49 blocks
    Gabby Ruth 2.5 kills/set, 14%, 19 blocks
    Amber Miller 7.6 assists/set, 15 aces

    #2 Northwestern College: 6-0 (GPAC), 18-0 overall        Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (15th year)

One of two teams still unbeaten in the NAIA, second-ranked Northwestern is a perfect 18-0 on the year, 6-0 in GPAC play. They earned three wins last week, going 9-1 in sets played, in defeating Dakota Wesleyan, York and University of Jamestown. The Red Raiders are 7-0 against teams that are ranked in the current NAIA Coaches' poll. 

    By the Numbers...
    14.2 kills per set (1st, 3rd in NAIA)
    .308 hit % (1st / 1st)
    117 aces (T1st)
    14 digs/set (10th)
    2.1 blocks/set (8th)

    Individual Leaders:
    Anna Wedel - 3.9 kills/set (3rd), .317 (8th), 11 aces, 2.5 digs/set, 25 blocks
    Makenzie Fink - 3 kills/set, .333% (5th), 17 aces, 36 blocks
    A.J. Kacmarynski - 2.7 kills/set, .234%, 16 aces, 21 blocks
    Bekah Horstman - 2.1 kills/set, .395%, 66 blocks (7th)
    Emily Van Ginkel - 1.8 kills/set, .306%, 55 blocks 
    Lacey Wacker - 11.9 assists/set (1st / 1st), 29 aces (1st), 2.05 digs/set
    Emily Strasser -23 aces (8th), 4.4 digs/set (6th)