Box Score

Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 8, 2007 -- Following their 2-0 performance in the first day of action at the Augsburg College Invitational, Northwestern faced tough competition versus Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Day 2. The Eagles, who play UW-Eau Claire twice within eight days, fell 3-0 (30-24, 30-23, 30-19) before defeating Macalester College in the tournament's fifth place match.

No one on the young NWC squad recorded over six kills versus Eau Claire, as Northwestern was out-hit 45-22. Laura Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) and Steph Koth (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) each worked hard for six kills, while Sarah Whitmore (Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake Christian) (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake Christian) added four.

UW-EC spread their offense around, as Blugolds tallied six more apiece.

Northwestern's has been prominent in the blocking department to start the 2007 season, and Saturday's first match was no different, as the Eagles recorded 12.5 blocks in the quick three-game set. Whitmore was a part of six blocks, while Bicket added five.

Following their 9 a.m. contest, the Eagles turned right around to play at 11 a.m., and turned their game around in the process, defeating Macalester 3-1 (30-26, 30-32, 30-28, 31-29). Northwestern used a .242 attacking percentage in the fourth game to throttle themselves past the Scots in nail-biter.

Coming off one of their worst matches of the year, NWC racked up 66 kills, led by Kathryne Engel (Wayzata, Minn./West Lutheran) (Wayzata, Minn./West Lutheran), who had a season-high 19. Whitmore and Koth followed with double-digit kills of their own, recording 12 apiece. As the Eagles' 6-2 offense continued to make strides, Hillary Slagter (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) and Leah Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines Christian ) (West Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) tallied 27 and 20 assists, respectively.

Northwestern's dominant blocking continued, as Head Coach Beth Wilmeth's squad had 15 blocks in the match, led once again by Whitmore, who had nine (four solo, five assisted). The Eagles were second in a field of eight teams in blocks per game with 3.07, while Whitmore was the tournament's leading individual with 1.53 per game.

Kate Fahje led Macalester with 21 kills.

Following the match, NWC improved their 2007 record over Macalester to 2-0, while the Eagles improve to 5-4 overall. Northwestern will take a quick break before resuming play on Wednesday, Sept. 12th, when they hit the road to play UW-Stout for a 7 p.m. contest.