EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The UNW Volleyball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament with a first round win over Illinois Wesleyan on Thursday. On Friday, the Eagles went head to head against #6 Hope College. Hope won the match 3-1, and the Eagles' remarkable 2021 season came to an end in the round of 32.

This was a matchup between two nationally ranked teams and a sweet sixteen berth was on the line. The match was tightly contested right from the opening gun. The two teams literally traded points all the way until an Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) kill made it a 22-22 game. The Flying Dutchmen would come away with the final three points and win the set 25-22.

The Eagles would respond in the second set. #6 Hope jumped out to a 12-10 lead over #15 UNW. The Eagles would answer with a 5-0 run that featured an ace from Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY) and a Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) kill. The Eagles would not trail for the remainder of the set, and it was a Kate Rogers' (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) ace that gave UNW a set two victory. The final score of the second set was 25-21.

The #6 Flying Dutchmen would follow up the Northwestern victory by winning the third and fourth sets to take the match 3-1. The third set ended with a score of 25-19, and the fourth and final set was a competitive battle as the Eagles fought to extend their season. Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) delivered a kill to tie the fourth set at 23, and that would prove to be the last point of the Eagles' historic season. Hope would win the final set 25-23.

Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) was phenomenal as she finished with 21 kills and 20 digs in the match. Glanzer's performance this afternoon was the cherry on top of her marvelous freshman season. The freshman out of South Dakota was the UMAC Rookie of the Year and the AVCA All-Region Rookie of the Year. Glanzer became the second Eagle ever to be named the AVCA Player of the Week in 2021 and will be a name for UNW fans to know throughout her career in purple and gold.

Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) had 27 digs in the match, and many of them were highlight reel plays to keep volleys alive against Hope's potent offensive attack. The junior had a fantastic season for #15 UNW and was a major key to the team's success this season. Schroyer won UMAC Defensive Player of the Year, and has already had a legendary career as the libero for Northwestern. Eagle fans should be excited to watch Marylyn in her senior season.

Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) was fantastic as she finished with 12 kills and 14 digs. The junior was lethal all season long for the Eagles, as opponents learned to fear the vicious kills coming off of Hardy's left hand. Ari Schmidt (Albany, Minn./Holdingford) added 11 kills, and the freshman was sensational down the stretch for the Eagles and she burst onto the scene late in the season. Straub had 8 kills and 9 digs and was a dangerous offensive player all year long. Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) finished out her strong season with 8 kills.

Last, but certainly not least, is Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY). The senior played her last game ever for the Eagles and will be remembered as one of the best to ever put on the Eagle uniform. It was a fitting end for the senior as Schwitters finished with a remarkable 51 assists and 16 digs. She will graduate holding the program record for assists in a career with 4,684, a record that will be hard to break. Schwitters was named the UMAC Player of the Year for her performance in 2021, and has a long list of individual accolades. However, in addition to her skill, the Eagles' coaching staff and players appreciate her for her leadership, humility, and dedication to the program.

In addition to losing Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY), the Eagles also say goodbye to seniors Hope Kapelke (Ft. Atkinson, Wis./Ft. Atkinson) and Karly Fehr (Morris, Minn./Morris). Kapelke and Fehr have been excellent leaders for this Eagles squad throughout their careers and Northwestern volleyball is thankful for the legacy and impact they have left on the program. Schwitters, Kapelke, and Fehr made up a great group of seniors for this 2021 season.

It was a historic season for the 2021 Eagle Volleyball team. The ladies finished the season at 30-4, went undefeated in UMAC play, won the regular season UMAC Championship, won the UMAC Tournament Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Division III Round of 32. Additionally, the Eagles spent every week of the season ranked in the AVCA's National Top 25 poll.

Head Coach Beth Wilmeth led the way for the Eagles. Coach Wilmeth wraps up her 18^th season at the helm with 459 total wins, having surpassed the 450 milestone during the season. Coach Wilmeth has had a remarkable run with UNW Volleyball, and can add another NCAA tournament appearance and win to her resume in 2021. Coach Wilmeth is assisted by John Barnes, Leah Engskov, Karly Fehr (Morris, Minn./Morris), and Abby Pierce who all deserve a lot of credit for what the Eagles accomplished this season.

Congratulations to the UNW volleyball team on a fantastic 2021 season.