SIOUX CITY, Iowa - #7 Northwestern starts their 2025 season with two tournament wins in Sioux City. The Raiders overcame a one-set deficit against Spartanburg Methodist, winning 3-1, before taking Valley City State to five sets for a 3-2 victory.
MATCH 1: NWC 3-1 (22-25, 25-11, 25-13, 25-14)
How It Happened
The Raiders win their first match of the 2025 season over Spartanburg Methodist in four sets. After losing set one, Northwestern won three straight sets while hitting .290 while holding the opposition to .126, displaying their offensive strength and defensive resilience.
In the first set, Spartanburg Methodist opened with a commanding 5-0 lead, featuring a service ace and capitalizing on several attack errors by the Raiders. Despite trailing 13-4, Northwestern rallied with a 4-0 run to narrow the gap to 19-17. However, the Pioneers clinched the set 25-22 for the 1-0 lead.
The Raiders responded in the second set by surging to a 4-1 lead, aided by a service ace from
Maggie Bloom. Spartanburg Methodist briefly tied the score at 4-4, but Northwestern regained control with strategic plays, including another service ace, this time by
Madi Nemmers, extending their lead to 11-5. The set concluded with
Zavyr Metzger's fifth kill of the set, seeing Northwestern dominate 25-11.
In the third set, Northwestern started strong again with a 4-0 run, highlighted by an ace from
Tierney Huss and a kill from Metzger. The Raiders' momentum continued with seven straight points as they took a 14-5 lead. Northwestern sealed the set 25-13 with a block by
Sidney Oostra and
Maddy Sampson.
The Raiders held firm in the fourth set with a 25-14 triumph, fueled by a solid defensive effort and key contributions from players like Sampson and
Rylie Franken. A significant spurt with three consecutive kills by Franken extended the lead to 9-4, and Nemmers' service aces helped secure the victory.
Game Notes:
MATCH 2: 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17, 15-9)
How It Happened
Northwestern College defeated Valley City State University in a five-set match, winning 3-2 by scores of 20-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17, and 15-9 at the CNOS Fieldhouse in North Sioux City, South Dakota on Saturday.
In the first set, Valley City State started strong with a 4-0 lead, while the Raiders struggled initially, calling a timeout when trailing 9-2.
Madi Nemmers provided a brief spark for Northwestern with back-to-back service aces, cutting the deficit to 10-7. Despite the Raider efforts, the Vikings maintained control and closed the set 25-20.
In the second set, the teams exchanged early points, tying at 6-6 after a series of errors and kills from both sides. The Raiders then seized momentum, going on a 4-1 run with kills from
Stella Winterfeld and
Aubrey De Groot, leading 10-9. The Vikings countered with a 5-2 run to tie the game at 17-17, but Northwestern rallied back, with
Maddy Sampson contributing two crucial kills to secure a 25-21 victory.
During the third set, VCSU quickly established a 3-0 lead, Winterfeld responded with several kills for the Raiders, but the Vikings extended their advantage to 8-3. Despite the efforts of Winterfeld and Sampson, Northwestern struggled to close the gap, allowing VCSU to surge to a 12-3 lead. After a timeout at 20-13, the Raiders couldn't catch up, and the Vikings finished the set with a 25-18 victory.
The Raiders started the fourth set with a 3-0 lead, aided by two consecutive blocks involving
Maddy Sampson. The Vikings responded with a 5-0 run to briefly lead 5-3 before Northwestern regained momentum with five consecutive points, highlighted by three kills from
Zavyr Metzger. The Raiders extended their lead further, capitalizing on multiple attack errors by the Vikings and a service ace by Winterfeld, making it 16-7. Despite some pushback from VCSU, the Raiders maintained control, with Sampson closing the set at 25-17 with a kill and a service ace.
In the decisive fifth set, Northwestern once again jumped out to a lead before the Vikings tied the score at 3-3. Unfazed, the Raiders responded with a 3-0 run, including two kills by Winterfeld and one by
Emma Westphal, prompting the Vikings to call a timeout. It wouldn't slow Northwestern, as the Raiders extended their lead to 9-4. VCSU closed the gap to 9-7, but could not sustain the momentum. Northwestern secured the victory with a final 3-0 run, including a service ace by
Sidney Oostra, to win the set 15-9.
Game Notes
Up Next: The Raiders have two more tournament games tomorrw, August 23rd, against #11 McPherson and Missouri Valley.
