Northwestern overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat 19th-ranked Corban (Ore.) in five sets (22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17, 15-12) in the final match on day one of the Red Raider Classic. Northwestern went 2-0 on the day as the earned a 3-0 win (25-7, 25-16, 25-10) against Wayland Baptist (Texas) in an afternoon match. 

Anna Wedel put away a match-high 19 kills, one of four Red Raiders to post double figure kills. Both Makenzie Fink and A.J. Kacmarynski added 17 kills and Bekah Horstman forced down 14 for the balanced Red Raider offense.

Returning All-American setter Lacey Wacker lofted 59 assists, six off her career best, and directed a Northwestern offense that outhit Corban .280 - .189. 

Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch's squad saved its best play when it mattered most, hitting .600 in a must-win fourth set where they managed 16 kills in 25 attacks with just one error. The Red Raiders fell behind early (6-4) but outscored Corban 6-1 to take a 10-7 lead. Fink and Emily Strasser both served three points during the surge. The hosts later used a 10-4 run to pull away and win the fourth set 25-17. 

Northwestern used a pair of 4-1 runs to come away with a 15-12 win in the decisive fifth set. The Red Raiders held Corban to a negative kill efficiency in the final set.

Horstman (6 solo) and Emily Van Ginkel (3.5) led the blocking effort for NWC and Strasser totaled 18 digs. 

Corban was led by Avari Ridgway and Cassie Cunningham with 16 kills each and Jadyn Mullen put up 31 assists. 

Northwestern hit .432 in its straight set win over a short-handed Wayland Baptist squad in its first match of the day. Both Wedel and Fink totaled 10 kills, Kacmarynski and Horstman added seven and Van Ginkel put down six. Wacker pushed up 35 assists to go with four ace serves and Strasser served a career-best five aces. 

The Red Raiders limited WBU to negative hitting percentage in sets one and three and trailed only briefly in set two. 

Seventh-ranked Northwestern, now 2-0, will play Baker in its final match at the Classic on Saturday at 1pm.