Michael McLune/UW-Whitewater Athletics

Box Score

Northwestern (Minn.) UNW 28-9

Bethel BU 25-9

Northwestern (Minn.) UNW

28-9

Final

Nov. 14, 2015

Bethel BU

25-9

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	5	F
Northwestern (Minn.) UNW	18	29	22	25	11	(2)
Bethel BU	25	27	25	16	15	(3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | 11/14/2015 11:50:00 PM | Jay Hilbrands

UNW’s Historic Season Comes to Close With Hard-Fought Loss to Bethel

WHITEWATER, Wis. – What a run it was for the University of Northwestern volleyball team, as the Eagles made their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance Saturday night before seeing their magical season come to an end with a hard-fought five-set loss to Bethel University inside Russell Arena.

After the Royals took the first set, the Eagles found their groove and won a back-and-forth second set to even the match at a set apiece. Bethel then took a 2-1 match lead with a 25-22 win in set three. Northwestern would then force a fifth and deciding set with a commanding win in set four. In the final frame, the Royals jumped out to an early lead before the Eagles rallied off three straight points to tie the set at 5-5. After the teams traded points, BU scored back-to-back points and never looked back, taking the fifth set and match.

Shanay Gonder (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) continued her impressive play, flooring a team-high 15 kills, while Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) tallied 14 kills and 14 digs. Lydia Palkert (Excelsior, Minn./Southwest Christian) and Faith Vander Galien (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) registered double-digit kill totals for the second time in as many days, posting 12 and 11, respectively. Jackie Foster (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City)recorded 23 digs, while Abby Vander Galien (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) racked up 16. Leesa Hulstrand (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) had 27 assists and Kaelyn Kilbo (Delano, Minn./Delano) contributed 24 for the Eagles.

For their outstanding play at the regional, Palkert and Peterson were both named to the All-Region team.

Saturday marked the final contest for seniors Lizzy Jonas (Neenah, Wis./Valley Christian ), Palkert and Vander Galien. The trio helped the Eagles win four consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament titles and advance to four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Bethel now advances to the Elite Eight to take on Hendrix College. The NCAA Division III Elite Eight will be held next weekend in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Eagles end the year with their second-most victories in program history.

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