ST. PAUL - The No. 12 ranked University of Northwestern volleyball team was aided by a complete team effort on Tuesday night, en route to a pair of conference sweeps. Every player in uniform played--and played well, at that--in 3-0 victories over Crown College and North Central University.

UNW 3, Crown 0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-9)
The Eagles started off the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) triangular with a convincing sweep of Crown College, holding the Storm to single digits in each of the last two sets. Behind an impressive .366 hitting percentage, both old and new faces excelled for UNW. In limited action, Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) notched 12 kills, while Mariah Halvorsen (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) followed suit with 10. Peterson and Halvorsen both led the team with two blocks a piece, as well. Leesa Malone (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) had an outstanding day near the net, serving up 24 assists. Freshman Carley Lynch (Braham, Minn./Braham) also took advantage of extended playing time, registering team-highs of 11 digs and two aces.

UNW 3, North Central 0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-14)
After holding Crown to single digits in the final two sets of their first game of the day, Northwestern picked up right where they left off in the nightcap, scoring the first 17 points of the match and holding North Central to single digits in the first two sets. It proved to be a dominant effort from start to finish for the Eagles, who saw contributions from everyone in uniform, and hit an incredible .560 on the night. Among said contributors was freshman Kalley Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian), who led the team with nine digs and an outstanding five aces. Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) (10), Leesa Malone (9) and Jalyn Larson (Drayton, N.D./Drayton) (7) led the way in the kill department for UNW. Malone also contributed 16 assists and two blocks, while Larson notched a pair of blocks as well. Other notable statistics for the Eagles included three Freya Hanson (Otsego, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) aces and 12 Kaelyn Kilbo assists.

This was the first game in which first-year NCU head coach and former Eagle volleyball player Faith Vander Galien coached against her former team. Vander Galien is also the older sister of UNW senior Abby Neuberger (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian).

The next action for the Eagles will be on Friday, September 22, as they take on St. Scholastica and Bethany Lutheran in Mankato.