A short turnaround puts the Northwestern volleyball team back in action after just two days off with a road match against Briar Cliff on Wednesday night, Oct. 7. First serve at the Newman Flanagan Center is set for 7:30pm with the JV match before at 6pm.
Northwestern is tied with College of Saint Mary for fourth place in the current GPAC standings with a 2-1 record, 4-1 overall. Briar Cliff has lost eight consecutive matches and is 0-6 in the GPAC, 4-8 overall.
Since its four-match win streak at the start of the season, Briar Cliff has dropped eight straight matches, including six in conference play. They defeated Waldorf, William Penn, Cottey and Avila in matches played Sept. 5-6. Losses include Dakota Wesleyan (2), Morningside (2), Dordt, Jamestown, along with Mayville State and University of Northwestern in non-conference play.
Weatherford is in her second season with the Chargers program, taking over prior to the 2019 season. She has served as an assistant coach at Luther (Iowa), Kirkwood Community College and Waldorf. Weatherford returns three starters and five players from a 2019 team that finished 11th in the GPAC at 3-13, 13-18 overall. They were picked to finish 11th in the preseason poll.
The Raiders were defeated for the first time this season last time out, swept by Dordt University on Monday night, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14. Prior to that setback, Northwestern had won its four previous matches and 12 of 13 sets played.
Northwestern, the defending GPAC regular season champion, was picked first in the 2020 preseason coaches poll.
The Raiders swept the GPAC Player of the Week honors as Anna Wedel, Lacey Reitz and Emily Strasser earned attacker, setter and defensive accolades. Reitz was named the NAIA Setter of the week as well.
