MOUNT VERNON, Ia.- Collegiate athletics were created for nights like Friday, November 17
th 2023. The University of Northwestern Eagles defeated the Cornell College Rams in the second round of the NCAA National Tournament to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Eagles defeated the Rams in one of the most dramatic contests in school history, scoring the final seven points of the evening to win in five sets.
The University of Northwestern is headed back to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in program history. The Eagles have a record of 31-4 in 2023 and are one win away from winning an NCAA Regional for the second consecutive season.
To reach the Regional Finals, the Eagles not only had to square off with a nationally ranked team, but they had to do it on their home floor as well. #25 Cornell was selected as the regional host, despite receiving the fourth seed in the region. The top seeded Eagles were required to play in a true road game if they wanted to get back to the Sweet Sixteen. The Rams' rambunctious crowd was a factor in the contest all night long. That large and loud crowd would be treated to a volleyball game between two nationally ranked teams that they would not soon forget.
The first set of the night was the least dramatic of the five that were played between the two squads. The Eagles hit .400 compared to the Rams' .184 and never trailed as they rode a 9-1 early lead to a 25-18 opening set victory.
In the second of the night, things got a bit closer but the fireworks did not officially get started yet. This time, Cornell hit .209 and their defense adjusted from a difficult first set to hold UNW's hitting percentage to .081 in the second frame. The Rams led by as many eight and held on to win set two by their largest margin of the night, 25-20.
The fireworks, and the drama, officially arrived in the third set. With the two teams tied at 1-1, the intensity in the match seemed to pick up to another level. The Eagles jumped out to a 17-11 lead and appeared to be in control and on their way to a 2-1 set lead. However, the Rams scored six straight points to tie the set and send the "Ramily" (the name that Cornell has dubbed their home cheering section) into a frenzy. However, this veteran and battle tested Eagle team responded with poise and composure. The two teams would trade points (the game was tied at 18 points apiece) before the Eagles would score three consecutive points to grab back the momentum in the third set. UNW would go on to win the third set by a score of 25-21.
The fourth and fifth sets were as dramatic and action-packed as a match can be. The Eagles needed one more victory to punch their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen and the Regional Final but it was clear from the beginning of the set that it was not going to be an easy task. The Cornell broadcast described the fourth set as a "seesaw affair" and that was the perfect description for the action that took place in the set. Neither team was able to pull away from each other and the score was tied a remarkable twelve times in the set. The rubber finally met the road when the set was tied at 23 points each. The match felt like it was destined to go five sets, and that is exactly what happened. Cornell earned the final two points of the set and forced a fifth set with a 25-23 victory.
These two teams played inside this very gym on the Cornell College campus earlier in the 2023 season and anybody who watched that game back on September 9
th must have had déjà vu as Friday night's rematch went to a fifth set. Cornell emerged victorious in that September match by winning the fifth and decisive set 15-10. Fast forward back to Friday, November 17
th and these two evenly matched teams were headed back to a fifth set. Ironically, that 15-10 score would appear once again.
UNW got off to a strong start in the final set, leading 2-0. However, moving on to later in the set, the deciding set was tied 8-8. Cornell would score back-to-back points forcing the UMAC and AVCA Region 9 Coach of the Year
Beth Wilmeth to use her final timeout of the match, trailing 10-8. What transpired out of that timeout had to be seen to be believed. The Eagles went on one of the great scoring runs in program history, ripping off seven straight points to stun Cornell and win the fifth set 15-10. UNW won the match 3-2 and continued to dance their way into the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen.
Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) was simply fantastic for the Eagles in the victory. The junior continues to cement herself as one of the top players in the country, always coming through for UNW on the big stage. She finished with 24 kills, 15 digs, and three aces.
Ari Schmidt (Albany, Minn./Holdingford) had 13 kills and three total blocks while
Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy) added 10 kills, four total blocks, and two aces.
Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins), the longest tenured Eagle, played one of the best matches of her career when the Eagles needed it the most. The old (relative to collegiate athletes, she's not actually old) and wily veteran finished with 38 digs in the match.
Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) and
Mikayla Wilber (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) were two of the most important Eagles in the victory with each making big plays in important moments of the match. Brown finished with five total blocks and Wilber had four serving aces. Brown and Wilber (along with Coach Wilmeth) addressed the media after the game and that press conference can be found below.
After having won an epic match on Friday night, the Eagles will be rewarded with the most epic matchup of their season so far. The University of Northwestern Eagles will meet up with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks on Saturday night with a region championship and Elite Eight appearance on the line. There is no shortage of story lines in what may be the best regional matchup in the country.
The Eagles are ranked #5 in the country and the Warhawks are ranked #4 in the poll, setting up a matchup of top five teams in the country on Saturday evening. The Eagles and the Warhawks met in last year's regional final inside the Ericksen Center where UNW won 3-1 and advanced to the Elite Eight. UNW also defeated UWW 3-1 earlier this season on September 9
th.
The game will take place inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center on the Cornell College Campus on Saturday, November 18
th. The game is scheduled to begin at 5pm. Coverage regarding the Northwestern Volleyball team can be found on UNWEagles.com.
