Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Northwestern volleyball team finished its busy weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational with a 3-1 record, splitting its Saturday contests against the 19th-ranked Warhawks (3-1 loss) and Wisconsin Lutheran College (3-0 win). The rather successful weekend improves the Eagles' overall record to 4-9 after entering this week with one victory.

Facing off against the home team and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 pick for the second time in four days in a fairly early 10 a.m. match, Northwestern had the match score tied at one set apiece before Whitewater took Sets 3 and 4 by 25-18 and 25-20 marks. UNW came out a little flat, matching its kills and errors in the first set en route to a 25-19 loss, but rebounded with a .171 hitting rate in a victorious 25-23 second set victory.

Kendra Korporal (Sumner, Iowa /Sumner-Fredericksburg) had 12 kills for the Eagles, with Lydia Palkert (Excelsior, Minn./Southwest Christian) and Hallie Mueth (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) adding 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Krista Stoltz (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) posted 34 assists while Lexi Bertch came through for 18 digs with Lizzy Potratz (Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian ) chipping in 13 digs of her own.

Whitewater not only hit better than UNW (.182 compared to .071), but the Warhawks also had 14 blocks while the Eagles countered with six to improve to 10-3 overall this season.

Northwestern got back on track with a quick three set victory over the Warriors from Wisconsin Lutheran prior to a long road trip home. 16 points was as close as Wisconsin Lutheran came to the Eagles in any of the sets, with UNW taking the second set fairly easily at 25-10.

Palkert had the most success on offense for Northwestern this time, leading the team with nine kills and a .474 attacking rate as UNW hit .313 for the match. Faith Vander Galien (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) contributed eight more kills as the two combined for nearly half of the Eagles' 33 total kills, thanks in part to 32 assists from Stoltz.

Northwestern, who celebrated a pair of victories over Millikin University and Bethel University on Friday, will have a full week of practice before opening Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play next Friday, September 20 against the College of St. Scholastica, followed by two matches on Saturday the 21st.