No.2 Northwestern College earned a four set win (16-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-19) over #16 Oklahoma City to advance to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
Northwestern, now 32-1, will play GPAC rival University of Jamestown at 8:15 this evening with a bid to the national semifinals on the line. This will be the third match between the teams; the Red Raiders swept the two prior meetings this season. Oklahoma City ends the season with a 34-4 record.
Anna Wedel blasted 19 kills, her fourth straight match in double figures, and hit .237 against the tall frontline of the Stars. A.J. Kacmarynski put down 10 kills, her third match in double figures at the championship, and totaled seven digs.
Northwestern dropped the opening set, 25-16, falling behind from the start after Oklahoma City scored five of the first six points. Three kills from Wedel brought the Red Raiders within two (13-11) and forced a Stars timeout. Still down by just four (16-12), the Stars closed with a 9-4 run and held Northwestern to a 0% hitting percentage.
Trailing in sets for the first time at the championship, Northwestern raced out to an 8-1 lead behind the strong serving by Jadeyn Schutt and kills from Emily Van Ginkel and Wedel. Oklahoma City began a slow, gradual rally, eventually tying the score at 20 and the set was tied four more times thereafter. Tied for the final time at 24, an attack error by the Stars and a block by Kacmarynski and Van Ginkel gave Northwestern the win.
Northwestern fell behind early in the third (13-10) but scored the next six points, served by Madison Hofman, and getting another kill from Van Ginkel. Kills from Jessica Harald and Kacmarynski put their team in front 20-14 and the Red Raiders were able to sideout OKC to close the set, 25-21.
A 5-0 run, once again triggered by the serving by Hofman, put Northwestern in front 9-7 in the final set. Oklahoma City closed the gap to one (12-11) but Northwestern scored the next eight points with Kacmarynski serving for a 20-11 advantage. Horstman combined with Wedel and Lacey Wacker for two key blocks during the decisive run.
Northwestern hit .141 for the match and totaled 16 blocks, led by Horstman (7) and Van Ginkel (5). Wacker put up 40 assists and Emily Strasser totaled 25 digs, one of four Red Raiders to post double figure digs. Wacker (14), Bri Kleinwolterink (11) and Ann Pater (11) were also in double figures.
Emma Lofton led OKC with 18 kills, followed by Lacey Beeler with 15.
