ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – No. 5 University of Northwestern Volleyball swept the Crown College Polars on Tuesday night in their final road match of the regular season. The 3-0 sweep was the 12^th in as many conference matches for the Eagles as UNW improved to 12-0 in the UMAC and 26-2 overall.
 
The first set was the closest contested of the match. Crown took a three-point lead over UNW early up 6-3. The tide turned quickly, however, as the Eagles proceeded to go on a 10-point run to take a 13-6 lead. UNW later rattled off a seven-point run to take a 13-point lead up 23-10. Northwestern wrapped up the set with a 25-13 win.
 
Up 1-0 and having found their rhythm, the Eagles went on to dominate the second set. UNW only let Crown land two kills and didn't give up a single block or ace in the set. Northwestern had a 7-0 run, a 5-0 run, and three separate 4-0 runs en route to a commanding 25-7 set win to go up 2-0.
 
The Eagles kept up the attack in the third set, taking a 9-0 lead right out the gate. Crown cut the UNW lead down to seven at 12-5, but Northwestern responded with a four-point run to go up 16-5. The Eagles and Polars battled back and forth for a handful of points, but Northwestern won six of the final seven points to take the set 25-9 and complete the match sweep.
 
Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) led UNW with 11 kills and a phenomenal .786 hitting percentage. Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) and Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy) each had two solo blocks in the win. Felicia Luther (Victoria, Minn./Southwest Christian) led the Eagles with 20 assists and Grace Strickfaden (Norwood-Young America, Minn./NYA) followed with 14. Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) led all competitors with 11 digs in the match.
 
UNW fired off 39 kills on .464 hitting while holding Crown to just eight on -.125 hitting. The Eagles had 46 digs to the Polars' 21. Northwestern had 15 different athletes play in the match.
 
Up next, No. 5 Northwestern returns home on Friday for a 7:00 P.M. match against Bethany Lutheran while hosting both their VIP Night and Faculty Appreciation Night. On Saturday, UNW closes out their regular season with a 1:00 P.M. Senior Day match at home against Martin Luther College.