SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the fourth and fifth times this season, the No. 8-ranked Northwestern College volleyball team (6-0, 1-0 GPAC) picked up two more straight set victories today to open the Sioux City Tournament over William Jessup (1-3, 0-0 GSAC) and Benedictine (4-2, 0-0 HAAC).
It was more of the same offensive production from Wednesday night, as senior Bekah Horstman (Pella, Iowa/Pella Christian) and freshman Alysen Dexter (Urbandale, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) didn’t miss a beat tallying 22 kills and 24 kills, respectively.
It was a block party all day long for the Raiders as the team sent down 21 attacks which helped to fuel the straight set dominance. Horstman had a very active day, not only offensively, but also led the team with eight blocks on the day. Junior Katie Peters (Le Mars, Iowa/Gehlen Catholic) tallied five blocks.
(8) Northwestern 3, William Jessup (Calif.) 0
The Raiders came out of the gate firing on all cylinders to start the Sioux City Tournament this weekend, beating out William Jessup in every major statistical category. Northwestern was led by senior leader Horstman led the team in both kills (13) and blocks (5).
Dexter wouldn’t be denied either, tallying eleven kills of her own, making it very difficult for the William Jessup defense to know where the attack was going to come from. Olivia Granstra (So., Sheldon, Iowa/Western Christian) was the key to the explosive offensive performance, leading the team with 17 digs. Junior Jadeyn Schutt tallied 14 kills, really keeping William Jessup on their toes the entire match.
Not only did the Raiders get it done offensively, but at the net, three Raiders combined for 11 blocks in the match to steal all the momentum. Macay Van’t Hul (So., Rock Valley, Iowa/Western Christian) and Savonne Sterk (So., Lynden, Wash./Lynden) both tallied three blocks in the victory.
Emily Strasser (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) carried the defensive load for the Raiders at her libero position with 16 digs. Dexter was also involved in back row action, finishing the match with 11 digs of her own, and Schutt just behind with nine.
(8) Northwestern 3, Benedictine (Kan.) 0
The Raiders didn’t skip a beat in the nightcap of their Day 1 at the Sioux City Tournament, coming off the straight sets victory over William Jessup in the first match of the day. As a team, the Raiders took advantage of seven service aces to down the Ravens, led by Strasser’s three aces.
Dexter returned to the top of the stat sheet with 13 kills against the Ravens, the only Raider to be in double-digits in the match. Horstman collected nine kills, and Peters tallied five. Like the previous match, it was a block party as the Raiders recorded a season-high 11 blocks in the win. Peters was the star of the block party, recording five, Horstman and Van’t Hul recorded three and two blocks, respectively.
Once again, it was Schutt and Granstra setting up the Northwestern attackers very nicely with Schutt getting the most assists in the nightcap with 19 to Granstra’s 14. Strasser was the only Raider in double-digits in the digs category with 13, but it’s hard to tally digs when the front row is blocking 11 Raven attacks.
So far this season, the Raiders have only dropped one set, that being to GPAC foe Briar Cliff back on August 28. Northwestern has won 30 of 31 sets played this season, while pulling out three consecutive straight set victories.
Up Next: The Raiders continue the Sioux City Tournament tomorrow with another two matches. They kick things off bright and early at 9:00 a.m. against the Cougars of St. Francis (Ind.), followed by a 1:00 p.m. clash with (RV) Evangel (Mo.).
