One of the best seasons in program history comes to an unfortunate end as No.2 Northwestern falls to GPAC foe University of Jamestown 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 27-29, 26-24) in the national quarterfinals played tonight at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The 2019 event is being played at the Tyson Events Center.
Northwestern ends the year with a 32-2 record, finishing with the most wins since 2014 and the best win percentage since 2010.
Anna Wedel put down a 2019 championship best 29 kills, one shy of matching her career high (30 vs Dordt), and hit .375 in the four-set match. It was the juniors fifth straight match in double figures. Jessica Harald matched her career best with nine kills and Emily Van Ginkel slammed eight kills and three blocks.
Playing for the third time this season, Jamestown gradually built up a 13-8 lead in the first set, holding the Red Raiders offense in check for the first part of the match. With Northwestern down six (16-10) and out of timeouts, the Red Raiders began their rally, scoring 12 of the next 16 points to seemingly turn the momentum and take a 22-20 lead. Madison Hofman, A.J. Kacmarynski and Emily Strasser all had aces and kills from Wacker, Wedel and Van Ginkel sparked the run. Up two (23-21), Northwestern gave up the final four points as Jamestown earned the come-from-behind 25-21 win.
Northwestern fell behind again early in set two, trailing by as many as five (11-6). A kill by Lacey Wacker began a 9-4 spurt, resulting a 15-15 tie. Wedel put down four kills and both Van Ginkel and Horstman had successful attacks during the run. The set was tied four more times but Northwestern was unable to ever take the lead; tied at 19, Jamestown scored six of the final seven points to take a 2-0 sets lead.
Facing elimination, Northwestern won a dramatic third set, 29-27, surviving two match points (26-25, 27-26). Close throughout the third set, Northwestern had the largest lead for either team, 24-21, only to have Jamestown score the next four points to get to the first match point. A kill by Kacmarynski extended the match and a kill from Wedel later staved off another match point. Tied at 27, another kill from Wedel and a block by Van Ginkel and Wacker gave Northwestern the win, 29-27.
The fourth and final set was close as well with the teams trading points and the largest lead held by Northwestern (4) late with the score 19-15. With the Red Raiders leading 21-18, Jamestown rallied with the next four points, taking its first lead since early in the set and forcing a Red Raider timeout. Tied again three more times and for the final at 24 all, Jamestown scored the final two points to advance to their first ever national semifinal.
Northwestern hit 27%, held a 10-8 advantage in blocks and a 9-8 edge in aces. Wacker put up 51 assists and registered 13 digs, one of four players to record double figure digs. Emily Strasser (22), Bri Kleinwolterink (10, and Ann Pater (10) were also in double figures. Hofman served a career-high three aces.
Jamestown hit 24%, led by Isabel Wedell with 15 kills.
