Box Score

St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 31, 2007—Hosting an eight-team tournament is one thing; winning it is another. Head Coach Beth Wilmeth and her Northwestern volleyball team recognized that on Friday as they split their two matches with Macalester College and Bethel University.

The Eagles started their season on the right foot first versus Macalester, taking the Scots in four games (30-24, 18-30, 30-19, 30-24). Although neither team had a great attacking percentage, Northwestern rallied behind the ever-so-strong arms and leadership of Kathryne Engel (Wayzata, Minn./West Lutheran) (Wayzata, Minn./West Lutheran) and Steph Koth (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing). Engel led NWC with 15 kills, while Koth chipped in with 12, respectively. Koth was also Northwestern's digs leader with 24.

The team's 6-2 offense was spread out evenly, as setters Leah Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines Christian ) (West Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) and Hillary Slagter (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) tallied 23 and 21 assists in the match.

In terms of blocking, each team tallied six blocks. Northwestern's Sarah Whitmore (Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake Christian) (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake Christian) accounted for four (two solo, two assisted) of the Eagles' marks.

In all, Northwestern's 57 kills and 49 assists overcame Macalester's 49 and 44. Kate Fahje led the Scots with 15 kills.

Playing in the second of back-to-back games, the Eagles didn't fare as well against Bethel, who won the Northwestern tournament with a 4-0 record in 2006. The Royals made quick work of the Eagles, winning 3-0 (30-26, 30-17, 30-21). Bethel more than doubled Northwestern's hitting percentage with a .309 mark, and rode the back of Liz Glesne, who recorded 18 kills.

Engel and Koth each had 12 kills for the Eagles, but Northwestern (34 total kills) couldn't compete with Bethel's 50 kills. Setter Laura Naig was a large contributor to the Royals' success, tallying 37 assists in her team's win. Slagter was the Eagles' leader with 16.

Northwestern will continue Day 2 of the tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday, when the action picks up at Bethel's Sports & Recreation Center. The Eagles are slated to take on North Central University first, followed by a “place match,” which will be determined afterwards. After Day 1, Northwestern is a strong favorite to represent their pool in the event's third place match.