Game Time...Top-ranked Northwestern begins postseason play this weekend when they host College of Saint Mary in a GPAC Quarterfinal match-up. First serve on Saturday, Nov. 9 is scheduled for 7pm. Northwestern, the GPAC regular season champion and the No.1 overall seed in the eight-team postseason tournament, is 28-0 on the year and went 16-0 in conference play. College of Saint Mary earned the No.8 seed after finishing eighth in the GPAC regular season with a 7-9 record, 22-13 overall. 

    Follow the match live via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern is 12-5 all-time against the Flames, winning nine straight matches in the rivalry. The Red Raiders defeated CSM 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17) in a match played earlier this season (Oct. 23) at the Bultman Center. 

Earlier Match-Up...Anna Wedel put down a match-high 16 kills in leading Northwestern to a 3-1 win over the Flames in the lone regular season match-up played this season. Both Makenzie Fink and A.J. Kacmarynski added 11 kills as Northwestern hit .357 for the match. Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch's squad held a commanding 11.5-2 advantage in blocks, led by Emily Van Ginkel (3) and Bekah Horstman (3.5). 

The Flames hit .147 and were led by Amber Anderson with 17 kills and Makenna Freeman with 14. 

Postseason Tournament Format...The top eight teams from the regular season qualify for a single elimination, postseason tournament where the winner will earn the GPAC's second automatic bid into the NAIA National Championship (if Northwestern wins, the tournament runner-up earns the second auto bid). 

GPAC Volleyball Quarterfinals – Saturday, November 9
    Records listed as (Overall, GPAC)

#8 College of Saint Mary (22-13, 7-9) at #1 Northwestern (28-0, 16-0), 7pm

#5 Dordt (18-10, 9-7) at #4 Midland (18-9, 10-6) at, 7pm

#6 Doane (17-12, 8-8) at #3 Concordia (22-5, 11-5), 7pm

#7 Morningside (16-10, 8-8) at #2 Jamestown (26-4, 14-2), 4pm

GPAC Volleyball Semifinals – Wednesday, November 13
Highest Seed Hosts

#4/#5 Winner vs. #1/#8 Winner, 7pm
#3/#6 Winner vs. #2/#7 Winner, 7pm

GPAC Volleyball Championship - Saturday, November 16

Semifinal Winners, At Highest Seed, 7pm

Scouting Report...

College of Saint Mary Flames: 7-9 (8th), 22-13 overall        Head Coach: Rick Pruett (3rd year)

The Flames closed the regular season with a loss at #8 Jamestown and dropped four of its final six matches. They finished eighth in the regular season with a 7-9 record, 22-13 overall. CSM swept both Briar Cliff and Mount Marty on Nov.1 and Nov. 2, prior to their loss at Jamestown.

Pruett is in his third season as the head of the CSM volleyball program. A long time high school, collegiate and AAU coach, Pruett has accumulated over 900 wins combined throughout his career. Most recently, he was the coach at Dakota Valley High School where he led his team to multiple state championships. He also has coached at Morningside, leading the Mustangs to the GPAC title. Pruett returns 12 players from a 2018 team that finished tied for 10th in the GPAC at 4-12, 14-17 overall. They were picked 10th in the GPAC preseason poll.

2019 Team Stats:
    13.4 kills/set (3rd)
    .189 hitting % (10th)
    161 aces (9th)
    213.5 blocks (11th)
    15.8 digs/set (5th)

    2019 Individual Leaders:
    Makenna Freeman - 3.1 kills/set (6th), .146%, 3 digs/set, 45 blocks
    Amber Anderson - 2.9 kills/set, .224%, 35 blocks
    Elizabeth Dlouhy - 2.6 kills/set, .305 (7th), 68 blocks
    Kamryn Willman - 2.4 kills/set, .279%, 112 blocks
    Natalie Patten - 6.6 assists/set, 37 aces (9th)
    Payton Robley (All-Conference) - 32 aces, 4.5 digs/set (3rd)

No.1 Northwestern Red Raiders: 16-0 (1st), 28-0 overall        Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (15th year)

The Red Raiders won the GPAC regular season title with a perfect 16-0 record, earning the No.1 seed in the conference postseason tournament. This the seventh time Northwestern won the regular season championship, all under current Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch. They are a perfect 28-0 overall and ranked first in the NAIA. 

2019 Team Stats:
    14.2 kills/set (1st / 3rd)
    .314 hitting % (1st / 1st)
    161 aces (2nd)
    228.5 blocks (5th)
    14.3 digs/set (11th)

    2019 Individual Leaders:
    Anna Wedel - 4.2 kills/set (2nd), .342 (2nd), 2.6 digs/set, 45 blocks
    Makenzie Fink - 3.1 kills/set (7th), .324 (5th), 26 aces, 66 blocks
    A.J. Kacmarynski - 2.5 kills/set. .238%, 24 aces, 36 blocks
    Bekah Horstman - 2.1 kills/set, .410%, 104 blocks (10th)
    Emily Van Ginkel - 1.6 kills/set, .296%, 107 blocks (6th)
    Lacey Wacker - 12 assists/set (1st / 1st), 40 aces (3rd), 2.1 digs/set
    Emily Strasser - 31 aces (5th), 4.3 digs/set (7th)