OSHKOSH, Wis. – The upset-minded No. 18 University of Northwestern volleyball team ran into perennial power and second-ranked Calvin College (32-1) in an NCAA Division III Semifinal match Friday night inside the Kolf Sports Center. The Eagles saw their record-breaking season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to the Knights in UNW's first-ever trip to the Final Four.

Northwestern fell to the two-time National Champion by set scores of 28-26, 25-18 and 25-17.



In a highly-entertaining and back-and-forth first set, the Eagles found themselves down 19-16 before UNW went on a 3-0 run to take the back the momentum. Northwestern then looked like they were going to steal the first set, as the Eagles had three set points, but Calvin flexed its muscle and won the overtime first set, 28-26. UNW battled through the next two games, but the Knights carried the momentum into the second and third sets to complete the sweep. The match ended the only way that it could for UNW – via an honor call – as the Eagles saw their true identity continue to shine through despite the sweep.

Playing in her final match, Shanay Gonder (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) slammed a team-high eight kills and added a pair of blocks. Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) had a strong effort on the defensive end, turning in 24 digs, while Jackie Doering (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City) added 13 and Abby Vander Galien (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) 10. Peterson contributed seven kills offensively, putting her No. 1 in the Northwestern record book for kills in a season. Toria Gillson (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Christian) posted a pair of service aces and Kaelyn Kilbo (Delano, Minn./Delano) tallied 18 assists.

UNW finishes the year with a school-record 34 wins and a pair of national individual accolades, as Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) and Beth Wilmeth were named the AVCA National Player and Coach of the Year, respectively.

The Eagles will say goodbye to a trio of outstanding seniors in Kylee Thiner (Ankeny, Iowa/Des Moines Christian), Toria Gillson (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Christian) and Shanay Gonder (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington), who will be greatly missed on and off the court.