Dubuque, Iowa – No. 14 University of Northwestern volleyball fell to an undefeated Loras College volleyball team in Friday night tournament action at the Duhawks home invitational. The Eagles move to 4-2 this season as Loras advances to 7-0, their best season start since ­­2008.
 
Northwestern fell in four sets, with set scores of 26-24, 25-22, 22-25, and 25-17.
 
UNW battled in set one, trailing 13-9 before winning seven of the next eight points to take a 16-14 lead. The Eagles took another late-set lead after Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) connected on back-to-back kills to go up 23-21. Loras took over, winning five of the next six points to earn a 26-24 first-set finish.
 
After dropping set two, Northwestern trailed 21-15 in the third set when Freya Hanson (Otsego, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) served seven straight points and Mariah Halvorsen (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) tacked on four kills to give the Eagles a 22-21 lead and the momentum they needed to clinch set three, 25-22. The Eagles fell in a decisive set four.
 
Halvorsen orchestrated another dominant offensive performance, putting together 20 kills (.326). Fuglestad added 12.
 
Anna Gasch (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) assisted five blocks on the night and Hope Kapelke (Ft. Atkinson, Wisc./Ft. Atkinson) added four. Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY) dished out 42 assists.
 
The Eagles will return to action tomorrow as they continue play at the Loras Invitational by taking on No. 9 Gustavus Adolphus at 9 AM followed by Dominican University (Ill.) at 1 PM. Northwestern last matched up against Gustavus on Nov. 11, 2017 in Sweet Sixteen play, falling to the Gusties 3-1.