Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WAVERLY, IOWA – The University of Northwestern volleyball team competed in a pair of non-conference match-ups Saturday in preparation for next week's UMAC Playoffs. The Eagles first took on Wartburg College, who sits at no. 7 in the Central Region Rankings (right behind Northwestern at No. 6), before facing Cornell College in the afternoon. UNW fell to Wartburg in a five set battle before downing Cornell in four.
 
Wartburg 3, Northwestern 2 (25-23, 22-25, 20-25, 27-25, 15-12)
*Waiting on Final Stats from UNW vs. Wartburg Match

The Knights entered the match-up with a 21-7 record and a perfect 8-0 mark in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Just one spot down from the Eagles in the Central Region rankings, the match proved to be a well-balanced battle.
 
Following eight tied scores and two lead changes, Wartburg took set one 25-23. Northwestern fought back to win sets two and three after consistent offense fueled by a career performance from Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria). After going up late in set four – the Knights tied it up (7 times) to secure the extended 27-25 set win.
 
Wartburg held the advantage from the start in the fifth and final set, sealing the five-set win with a 15-12 final score.
 
Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) put together 20 kills, hitting .298. Kalley Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./Central Christian) added 17, while Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) and Soleil Newland (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids - Rice) each added 10.
 
Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACRAY) dished out 51 assists, while three Eagles finished with double-digit dig totals led by Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) with 36. Lucy Pelzel (St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) had a team-best four aces and the Eagles recorded nine in total.
 
Northwestern 3, Cornell 1 (24-26, 25-18, 25-22, 25-12)

Following the Eagle's five-set battle with Wartburg, they were right back at it – taking on Cornell College. The Rams rallied to take set one, 26-24 before Northwestern found their stride.
 
The Eagles were dominant in set two, hitting .515 as a team while committing just two errors. UNW kept up the offensive consistency in sets three and four and recorded 31 kills to Cornell's 21.
 
Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) led the way for Northwester, recording 16 kills while hitting .333. Soleil Newland (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids - Rice) matched her career-high, adding 14 kills and hitting an impressive .765. Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) finished with 12 kills in the win.
 
Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACRAY) dished out 54 assists in the four-setter, while Anna Gasch (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) had a team-best four  blocks and Kalley Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./Central Christian) picked up 20 digs.
 
The Rams fall to 17-9 on the year as Northwestern moves to 22-8 this season. The Eagles have clinched the No. 1 seed in the UMAC postseason tournament and will host a semifinal match next Wednesday, November 6 in St. Paul against the winner of the quarterfinal match (no. 4 University of Wisconsin-Superior vs. no. 5 Bethany Lutheran).

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