Game Time...The long-awaited 2019 season debut for the seventh-ranked Red Raider volleyball team comes this weekend at their home classic, August 23-24 at the Bultman Center and Rowenhorst Student Center. Northwestern will play three matches in the two-day event, beginning with Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Friday afternoon at 4:30pm. They will then face #19 Corban (Ore.) later that night (8:30pm) and come back to play Baker (Kan.) in their only match on Saturday at 1pm.

All of the matches in the Bultman Center can be seen on the Red Raider Sports Network at the link: Watch / Live Stats! 

    2019 Red Raider Classic Page | 

All-Time...Northwestern is 0-1 all-time against Wayland Baptist, falling to the Pioneers in a pool play match in 2013. The Red Raiders are 1-1 against Corban, losing a five-setter in 2017 and then defeating the Warriors last season in four sets, with both matches at the Red Raider Classic. Northwestern is 7-2 all-time against Baker but lost its last match-up to the Wildcats in 2016, 3-2.

Scouting Reports...

    Wayland Baptist Pioneers: 
        2019 Record: 0-0
        2018 Record: 11-18 overall, 9-11 (6th place)
        Conference: Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)
        Head Coach: Jim Giacomazzi (13th year)

        WBU returns five starters and seven players from a 2018 squad that finished sixth in the SAC regular season at 9-11, 11-18 overall. They are picked tied for fourth place in the conference preseason poll, behind favorite SW Assemblies of God, Oklahoma City, Texas Wesleyan and tied with John Brown.

        Top Players returning:
        Kellie Kozak - 2nd team all-conf.; led team in blocks (67) and second on team in kills (2.4)
        Amber Daniel - HM all-conf.; 2017 Freshman of Year; led team in kills (3.1), 3rd in blocks (33)
        Jordan Breding - HM all-conf.; led team in digs (4.1) and serve receive (93%)

    #19 Corban Warriors:
    2019 Record: 1-1
    2018 Record: 23-13, 15-5 (4th place); lost in round of 16 at NAIA Championship
    Conference: Cascade Collegiate Conference
    Head Coach: Kim McClain (5th year)

    The Warriors return nine from a 2018 team that lost to Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in the round of 16 at the NAIA National Championship. Corban finished fourth in the CCC regular season and were one of our teams from the league to advance to the NAIA Championship. They are picked fourth in the preseason poll, behind Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho.

    Corban has already played two matches in 2019, both against GPAC teams; defeating Hastings in five sets and falling to Dordt 3-1.

    Top Players Returning:
    Adriana Aguayo - 1st team all-conf; led team in hitting (3.04 kills), 3rd in blocks (49)
    Kealani Ontai - HM all-conf; led team in digs (4.2)
    Cierra Leopoldino - 5.6 assists/set

    Baker Wildcats:
    2019 Record: 3-1
    2018 Record: 15-18, 9-8 (3rd)
    Conference: Heart of America Athletic Conference
    Head Coach: Matt Windle (4th year)

    Baker returns seven starters and nine players from a 2018 team that finished third in the HAAC. They are picked fifth of 13 teams in the HAAC preseason poll and come into the Classic with a 3-1 record, defeating Cumberlands, Goshen and Tennessee Wesleyan.

    Top Players Returning (2018 stats):
    Jordyn Hasbrouck - 3rd team all-conf; 42 aces
    Megan Milroy - 5.2 assists / set
    Skyler Bruck - 4.1 assists / set
    Sophie Heldenbrand - 1.4 kills / set; 53 blocks

    #7 Northwestern College:
    2019 Record: 0-0
    2018 Record: 13-3 (T2nd), 26-9; lost in round of 16 at NAIA National Championship
    Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (15th year)

    2019 Media Guide |