Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



ST. PAUL -- The Northwestern College volleyball team snuck in two Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) victories in a four-hour time span on Saturday, defeating Bethany Lutheran College and North Central University, both by 3-0 scores.

In a 25-14, 25-20, 25-14 final against Bethany Lutheran, the Eagles hit .289 while holding the Vikings to a .083 attacking percentage, marking the fifth time in the 2012 season that NWC has held its opponents to less than a .100 rate. Four different Northwestern players had eight or more kills in the match, with Tija Rudzitis (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek Christian ) leading the way with nine kills on 14 attempts for a .571 personal hitting percentage. Krista Stoltz (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) had 34 assists as NWC totaled 43 kills, 19 more than Bethany Lutheran.

On defense, #Lexi Bertsch (Missoula, Mont./Sentinel) and Kendra Korporal (Sumner, Iowa /Sumner-Fredericksburg) each had a team-high 13 digs, with Lizzy Potratz (Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian ) right behind at 12. Stoltz and Courtney Jonas (Neenah, Wis./Valley Christian) each had their hands on three blocks.

The Eagles' 6 p.m. North Central match featured much of the same story as NWC held the Rams to a .081 hitting rate en route to a rather lopsided 25-6, 25-6, 25-20 three-set contest. Every player in an Eagles uniform saw significant court time, with Lydia Palkert (Excelsior, Minn./Southwest Christian) leading the team with 14 kills on 20 attempts (.420). Faith Vander Galien (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) added nine kills on 13 tries as Northwestern hit .468 as a team. Lizzy Jonas (Neenah, Wis./Valley Christian ) directed traffic on the Purple and Gold's side of the court for Sets 2 and 3, tallying 22 assists along the way.

Now 13-7 overall, Northwestern has won all five of its UMAC contests this season. The Eagles will take a break from conference action with a home match against Carleton College next Tuesday, Oct. 2. That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in the Ericksen Center.