ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern dropped two games in the first day of the UNW Labor Day Tournament. UNW lost against No. 25 Coe College from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and later to Dominican University from Elmhurst, Illinois.
 
GAME 1
Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) came out firing with two un-contacted kills in the first couple of points as the Eagles were neck and neck with Coe for the entire first set.  The Maroon pulled ahead but after calling an Eagle timeout, Beth Wilmeth's squad regained the lead and took the first set 25-21. Coe fought back in the second set taking a 21-15 lead.  Regardless of the three-point push, the Kohawks tied the match with a second set victory. Down by five in the fourth, the Eagles made a comeback to tie the game at 18. Transfer middle Toria Gillson (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Christian) had quite the set, earning three kills in the final stretch. Taking the lead on game point, an Eagle service error stalled their momentum as Coe earned the next game point. Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork)'s rocket kill kept the match alive, but Coe couldn't be stopped in a loss for the Eagles.

Both teams struggled in hitting percentage hitting below the .160 mark. Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) had a double double with 23 digs and 11 kills, with Faith Vander Galien (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) close behind with 10 kills, also adding six blocks for the night.

GAME 2
Northwestern dropped three sets to Dominican. The Stars blocked UNW nine times, limiting their offense to a low .089 hitting percentage, adding 24 errors to the drawing board. Vander Galien collected a second double-digit game with 10 kills, with Lydia Palkert (Excelsior, Minn./Southwest Christian) following with 9. Foster and Peterson racked an impressive 20 digs apiece.

Northwestern will play two more matches Saturday afternoon at the Ericksen Center. The Eagles will face Loras College first at 11 a.m. and No. 20 Augsburg at 3 p.m.