Red Raiders Stay Unbeaten In Pool Play

No.2 Northwestern remained unbeaten in pool play with a three-set sweep (27-25, 27-25, 25-23) over #18 Lawrence Tech (Mich.) in match played tonight at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa.

With the win, the Red Raiders improve to 2-0 in pool play, 30-1 overall; Lawrence Tech is now 0-2 in pool play, 32-4 overall.

Anna Wedel registered her second consecutive double-double at the championship with 16 kills and 16 digs, closely followed by A.J. Kacmarynski contributed 14 kills and eight digs. Makenzie Fink put down 10 kills, giving Northwestern three players with double figure kills.

A close match throughout, the largest lead for either team over the duration of the match was four points. The first set featured 18 ties, including at 20 following a successful attack by Wedel. Lawrence Tech, however, scored four of the next points and served for the set at 24-22. A Blue Devils service error followed by a block by Kacmarynski and Bekah Horstman tied the set at 24. Facing set point again, 25-24, Northwestern scored the final three points on double blocks by Fink/Horstman and Wacker/Horstman followed by an attack error by the Blue Devils for a 27-25 win.

Northwestern built up a 6-3 advantage in set two only to have Lawrence Tech come back with nine of the next 12 points for a 12-9 lead. Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch’s squad responded with a 6-1 run of their own behind the serving of Jadeyn Schutt and kills from Wedel (2), Horstman (1) and Van Ginkel (1) to go back up 15-13. Tied later at 18, Northwestern seemed to take control with a 7-2 run, taking a 23-20 lead after kills by Horstman and Wedel. Back came Lawrence Tech, scoring four of the next five points to tie the set at 24 and 25. A Kacmarynski attack followed by an error by the Blue Devils gave Northwestern the win, 27-25.

Set three was just as close and featured 15 ties, three lead changes. Tied at 23, Northwestern went to Wedel, the 2019 GPAC Player of the Year, who delivered two straight kills for the win, 25-23.

Northwestern hit .301 compared to .250 by Lawrence Tech. The Red Raiders held the edge in blocks (6-1), aces (9-6) and hit better than the Blue Devils in all but the third set.

Lacey Wacker put up 39 assists, nine digs and served four aces; Emily Strasser led the backrow play with 21 digs.

Lawrence Tech was led by Zakia Hunt with 18 kills, hitting .424 for the match. Both Varvara Gromakova and Isabella McDonald added 11 kills each.

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