ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern volleyball team welcomed Crown College to the Ericksen Center for the 2019 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opener. The Eagles handled the Storm with ease, gaining momentum as the match progressed to secure the three-setter in just over an hour. With final set scores of 25-18, 25-13 and 25-7, Northwestern picked up the program's 46th straight win over Crown, dating back to 1994.
 
The Storm put up a good fight in set one, sticking with the Eagles until the purple and gold went on a 6-0 run to put an end to the back-and-forth battle. Junior outside hitter Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) proved too much for Crown to handle – hitting an impressive .682 average with 15 kills.
 
Finding their stride, UNW committed just one hitting error in each of the final two sets. With a .571 team average in set two, Northwestern was able to get several new Eagles involved.
 
Freshman Lucy Pelzel (St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) put together 10 kills on 16 attacks, while Soleil Newland (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids - Rice) and Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) also showed some offensive power. Newland recorded five kills from the middle and Hardy added a pair of kills from the right side.
 
Along with the team's noteworthy .378 hitting percentage, Northwestern also recorded 12 service aces.  With 56 generous individuals participating in this season's Aces for Joy campaign, the Eagles grand total of money raised for the Pals Family Foundation is up to $2,576 – with one dollar raised for every UNW ace.
 
Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACRAY) dished out 35 assists and Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) dug up a team-best nine balls. Crown was led offensively by Sarah Reinke and Ashley Earick who recorded four kills apiece.
 
Northwestern will be back at it in the Ericksen Center on Friday, Sept. 13 when they welcome Carleton College for a non-conference tilt at 7 p.m.
 
Follow UNW volleyball online this season at www.unweagles.com or on Instagram and Twitter at @unwvb.