Box Score ST. PAUL -- Northwestern College took its first match of the 2011 season as far as it could go, but the Eagles lost a tough five-set match to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 11-15). NWC outhit the Titans, but it was Oshkosh's ability to get back into games that helped the Eagles' opponent finish the match.
Northwestern played a great first set, taking a 1-0 lead behind a .500 attacking percentage and 15 kills. The only other time that the Eagles would see double digit kills came in the third set, when NWC again tallied 15. Northwestern had to play from behind for most of the fifth set and it showed with five kills and an equal five errors. Both teams definitely were working the “summer rust” off in their first contest of the year. Northwestern had 14 serving errors in the match, eight of which came in the first set. At the same time, Eagles Head Coach
Beth Wilmeth saw some of her players for the first time in a game setting.
Freshmen
Jacki Smith (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) (Shoreview, MInn./Concordia Academy) and
Cari Miller (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) (Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) earned starts in their first collegiate volleyball matches, both tallying five kills in the match.. Smith helped immensely on defense, earning five assisted blocks and one solo to combine for six total.
Chelsea Koth (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) inched closer to the 1,000 kills mark for her career with 17 in the match to go with a .289 hitting percentage. Koth is an even 50 kills away from the plateau.
Greta King (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) and
Courtney Jonas (Neenah, Wis./Valley Christian) (Neenah, Wis./Valley Christian) each posted double digit kills as well. King's statistics line read 12 kills with a .149 attacking percentage and five blocks while Jonas posted 10 kills on .280 and four blocks.
Krista Stoltz (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) had all but two of the Eagles' 45 assists, grabbing four blocks herself.
NWC will pick back up at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night, facing Bethel University in both teams' second match of the ACR Homes Volleyball Opener, which is hosted by Northwester in the Ericksen Center.
