ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Volleyball team entered a Wednesday night match against UW-Stout as the #17 ranked team in the country, and lived up to that billing once again. The Eagles earned their third consecutive sweep as they defeated Stout 3-0. The game was played at the Ericksen Center, where the Eagles improved to 14-2 on the season.

The first set was the closest of the three. UW-Stout played well and took the Eagles down to the wire. The set was back and forth the entire way until the Eagles found themselves in a 20-20 tie with the visitors. Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY) would take over serving duties and the Eagles scored three consecutive points, finished off with a Gabrielle Straub (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) kill, which put them in control. #17 UNW would win the first set 25-21.

The second set was where the Eagles found their groove. Northwestern jumped out to an early lead off of an Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) kill, and the Eagles would not look back. The home team would not trail on their way to a 25-11 set two victory. The highlight of the set was an 8-0 run (with Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) serving) which took the Eagles from a 16-10 lead, to a 24-10 lead. Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) and Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) were big parts of this run, delivering kills for the Eagles.

Set three followed the same script as set two. After trailing early, #17 Northwestern stormed back and took control of the set. After being tied at 7-7, the Eagles would not trail the remainder of the set and the Ericksen Center crowd had a lot to cheer about as the Eagles would win the third set 25-12, and the game 3-0.

Reigning AVCA National Player of the Week Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY) was solid once again. The senior had 37 assists and seven digs on the night, contributing both offensively and defensively for the Eagles.

Reigning UMAC Defensive Player of the Week, Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins), made things tough on the Stout offense all night long. Schroyer finished with 16 digs.

Reigning UMAC Offensive Player of the Week Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian), Gabrielle Straub (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson), and Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) continue to be a three headed monster for the Eagles' offensive attack. Glanzer and Hardy had 13 kills apiece, while Straub had 10 and chipped in on the defensive side of things adding 11 digs.

The Eagles will shift gears back into conference play as they head out on the road this weekend. #17 UNW will travel to face Crown on Friday, and will square off against Minnesota-Morris on the road on Saturday.