ST. PAUL - If there was any fear of a homecoming letdown, the No. 8 ranked Northwestern volleyball team apparently didn't get the memo, as they swept Northland College and the 17th-ranked University of St. Thomas in dominant fashion on Saturday in the Ericksen Center. The Eagles will head into October with a 19-3 overall record, and a perfect 10-0 mark in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.

UNW 3, Northland 0 (25-6, 25-13, 25-11)
A complete team effort sprung Northwestern to a convincing sweep of UMAC foe, Northland. Despite playing without seniors Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) and Jackie Doering (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City), the Eagles hit an impressive .427. Leading the attack were Mariah Halvorsen (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) (nine kills), Kalley Shwitters (eight kills), and Anna Gasch (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) (seven kills), who played in her first home game since sustaining an early season injury. Gasch also led the team with four blocks, while Leesa Malone (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) and Kaelyn Kilbo (Delano, Minn./Delano) served up 16 and 14 assists, respectively. Abby Neuberger (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) produced 11 digs, as did Carley Lynch (Braham, Minn./Braham), to go along with two aces.

UNW 3, St. Thomas 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-14)
In the nightcap, the eighth-ranked Eagles avenged an early season loss in dominant fashion, sweeping No. 17 St. Thomas in front of a packed Ericksen Center crowd. Lindsey Peterson (Sheffield, Iowa/West Fork) returned to the lineup and picked right up where she left off, racking up 18 kills, 14 digs, and two aces. Mariah Halvorsen (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) followed suit with eight kills, while Jenay Fuglestad finished with seven. The tandem of Leesa Malone and Kaelyn Kilbo once again impressed, as Kilbo dished out 16 assists, and Malone 20, to go along with four blocks. Other statistical leaders for Northwestern were Jackie Doering (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City) (18 digs) and Kayla Tanner (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) (six blocks).

The Eagles will conclude their three game homestand on Tuesday, October 3rd, as they welcome Carleton College to the Ericksen Center for a non-conference matchup.