Raiders to Host Saint Xavier in NAIA Opening Round Match

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Following a third consecutive GPAC tournament titleMasSc on Saturday, the Northwestern volleyball team has been selected as a host for the 2025 NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship Opening Round. The Raiders will welcome Saint Xavier (Ill.) for a 1:00 p.m. first serve in the Bultman Center on Saturday.

Tickets will be sold online and at the gate for $10 (adults) and $5 (K-College). Institutional IDs will not be accepted for admission. A livestream will be available for free on the Urban Edge Network.

Northwestern ran the table in GPAC play, recording a perfect 16-0 conference record and a 28-3 overall mark. The offense is sparked by GPAC Player of the Year Stella Winterfeld, who leads the conference with a 4.32 kills per set average. Northwestern is third in the country in total blocks (313) and blocks per set (2.93), paced by Zavyr Metzger, who leads the NAIA in blocks per set (1.93). The Raiders have demonstrated strength against the national field, defeating six top-25 opponents this season.

Saint Xavier (Ill.) enters the tournament with an 18-10 overall record, going 14-4 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). The Cougars finished third in the CCAC and advanced to the conference title match, falling in four sets to Viterbo (Wis.). Avanna Martinez is the CCAC leader in digs per set (5.85), while Carrington Smith sits fifth in the league in hitting percentage (.256).

Northwestern has hosted an Opening Round matchup every year since the NAIA expanded the tournament field in the 2020 season.

The winner of Saturday's match will advance to pool play of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship, set to run from December 3-5 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

#10 Zavyr Metzger: MH; 6' 1"; Senior

#5 Stella Winterfeld: OH; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#10 Zavyr Metzger
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MH

#5 Stella Winterfeld
: 5' 9"; Junior
: OH

Players Mentioned

#10 Zavyr Metzger

#5 Stella Winterfeld

Players Mentioned

#10 Zavyr Metzger

#5 Stella Winterfeld