DULUTH, Minn. (Sep. 26, 2008) – The Northwestern College volleyball team went into the College of St. Scholastica's Reif Gym as the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference's team to beat, according to the league's preseason coaches poll.  But Friday night's outcome was different than last year's battle between these two teams, as the Eagles claimed a 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-16) victory in a match that lasted just over an hour.  Northwestern, whose only loss in a 13-1 league schedule in 2007 came to the Saints in the Reif Gym, started this year's conference matches on the right foot.

The Eagles, winners of six out of their last seven matches, welcomed back Hillary Slagter (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian), who allowed head coach Beth Wilmeth to use a 6-2 offense.  Slagter gave Northwestern a huge boost in the front row, as the Saints' attackers had a difficult time getting over the 5'11” sophomore's reach.

Northwestern tallied 40 kills in the match with a .213 attacking percentage, compared to their opponents who amassed 32.  Senior Kathryne Engel (Wayzata, Minn./West Lutheran) (Wayzata, Minn./West Lutheran) led the Eagles with 13 kills and a personal attacking percentage of .458, while teammate Steph Koth (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) added eight kills.

Leah Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines Christian ) (West Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) had 22 assists for Northwestern, while Slagter contributed 12 assists.

The Eagles' defense was equally superb, recording 65 digs and four blocks.  Kelsey Korporal (Sumner, Iowa/Sumner-Fredericksburg) (Sumner, Iowa/Sumner-Fredricksburg), who had nine digs in one volley alone, led NWC with 23 digs for the match.

Both teams will play in less than 24 hours, as Northwestern (8-4, 1-0 UMAC) travels to Ashland, Wis. to play Northland College on Saturday, while St. Scholastica will host Crown College.  Both matches are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.