WHITEWATER, Wis. – Less than 24 hours after picking up an exhilarating five-set win inside Russell Arena, the University of Northwestern volleyball team was back in action and it meant business, as the Eagles punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 with a dominating 3-0 win over Wartburg College Friday night. UNW won by set scores of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-20 en route to qualifying for its first-ever NCAA Tournament Regional Championship.

UNW moves to 28-7 on the season – the 28 victories are tied for the second-most in program history. Wartburg, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) champions, finish the season 31-6.



Sophomore Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) was lights out, as the outside hitter slammed a match-high 20 kills, while tallying 13 digs. The Sheffield, Iowa, native compiled a .348 hitting percentage. Seniors Faith Vander Galien (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) and Lydia Palkert (Excelsior, Minn./Southwest Christian) stepped up once again, recording 13 kills and 10 kills, respectively. Vander Galien hit an impressive .478 in the middle. Freya Hanson (Otsego, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) was all over the place in the back row, as the freshman posted 12 digs. Leesa Hulstrand (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) had an all-around solid performance, picking up 23 set assists, flooring four kills and adding a pair of blocks.

The opponent for Saturday's final, none other than Northwestern's neighbor to the north, the Bethel University Royals. Bethel defeated UW-Eau Claire Friday to advance to the championship. First serve between the Snelling Avenue foes is set for 7 p.m. with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.