ST. PETER, Minn.- The nationally ranked University of Northwestern Volleyball team played its fifth consecutive game against a ranked opponent on Wednesday night when they traveled to St. Peter, Minnesota to take on #18 Gustavus Adolphus. In what may very well end up as the most entertaining match of the season, #6 UNW won 3-2 in five sets.
After the first set, it appeared as if it was going to be a quick night on Gus Young Court. The Eagles came out firing on all cylinders and made a statement winning the first set by an incredible score of 25-13. The Eagles only made 2 attacking errors in the set, compared to the Gusties' 11, and hit a whopping .423 in the match's opening set.
However, the #18 Gusties deserve a lot of credit for their response. Spurred on by an energetic "white out" crowd, the home team responded to a challenging first set by taking the second set 27-25. After a lopsided first set, it was clear to everybody in the gym that this match was going to be tightly contested after seeing the back-and-forth nature of set two. The Eagles trailed 14-10 but a 5-0 run led by two kills each from
Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) and
Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) gave them a 15-14 lead, their first lead in the set since it was 1-0. The two nationally ranked teams traded points until the scoreboard read 19-19. A Gustie error and kills from
Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) and
Grace Moravchik (Mason, Wis./Ashland) gave #6 UNW three straight points and a 22-19 lead. However, #18 GAC showed resiliency and scored four straight points of their own to jump back in front 23-22. The Gusties would then hold a 24-23 lead but a service error gave the Eagles new life and tied the set at 24-24. Another Gustie error would give the Eagles a 25-24 lead, needing just one point to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the game. They were unable to capitalize. Gustavus found a way to rattle off three straight points to win the set 27-25 and tie the match at one win apiece.
The Eagles would get back to their winning ways in the third set, once again winning by a sizeable margin like they did in the first set. UNW hit .250 in set three on their way to a 25-17 win. Northwestern's defense was the key in this set as they continued to frustrate the Gusties at the net by blocking their attacks.
Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy) led the Eagles with five total blocks in the match and UNW held GAC to a .087 hitting percentage in set three.
The match began to give viewers déjà vu as once again following a decisive Eagle victory, the Gusties followed it up with a tight, nail-biting victory of their own. This time, the score finished at 25-23 in favor of Gustavus as they won set four to force a fifth and decisive set. The home team appeared in control as they led 15-11 but UNW would mount a comeback (this would become a recurring theme later in the evening). The Eagles came back to tie the set at 17 all after another
Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) kill. The two teams exchanged blows and the game came down to the wire tied 22-22. GAC scored two straight, then
Ari Schmidt (Albany, Minn./Holdingford) picked up a kill before the Gusties scored again taking the set 25-23. This battle of high quality, nationally ranked opponents was going to a fifth and final set.
The Eagles, playing in a hostile environment on the road against one of the best teams in the Midwest, found themselves with their backs against the wall early on in the decisive set. Gustavus scored the first five points of the set to take a 5-0 lead. The Gusties then committed a service error but would score again immediately, now holding a 6-1 lead over the Eagles. The set moved forward and the Eagles got back to playing their brand of volleyball.
Grace Moravchik (Mason, Wis./Ashland) slammed one home to pull UNW within one, trailing 7-6. The Gusties scored but Moravchik picked up another kill, and then a Gustavus error tied the game 8-8. The two teams would trade a point (the Eagles scored thanks to an
Ari Schmidt (Albany, Minn./Holdingford) kill) and the game was tied at 9 points apiece. With the game on the line, Gustavus went on their most important run of the night. They scored four straight points to go up 13-9 forcing the Eagles to use their final timeout of the match. Moravchik picked up yet another kill before two GAC attacking errors pulled the Eagles back within one. The Gusties led 13-12 and picked up a huge point off of a kill to go up 14-12.
Now having zero margin for error, the Eagles turned to their All-American Outside Hitter and the reigning UMAC and NCCAA Offensive Player of the Week
Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) to get them back in the game. Glanzer picked up a pair of huge kills back-to-back to tie the game 14-14. Gustavus got the next point going back up 15-14. Glanzer picked up another kill to tie the game. Gustavus committed an attacking error to put UNW up 16-15. Once again,
Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) took the set from
Grace Strickfaden (Norwood-Young America, Minn./NYA) and hammered it home. Glanzer had picked up four kills in the Eagles' last five points and #6 UNW escaped with a memorable 3-2 victory.
Glanzer had yet another incredible night for the Eagles. She finished with 24 kills (for the third straight match) on a .305 percentage. She also had two assists, an ace, two blocks, and nine digs.
Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy) hit .333 on her way to 14 kills, an ace, five blocks, and two digs.
Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) had 10 kills and hit .364.
Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) had 20 digs and chipped in seven assists.
Grace Strickfaden (Norwood-Young America, Minn./NYA) had 31 assists and 14 digs while
Hannah Gadient (Goodhue, Minn./Goodhue) contributed with 21 assists.
After playing five consecutive games against teams in the AVCA Top 25 rankings, the Eagles will now begin preparing for conference play. They will host Martin Luther in the UMAC opener at 7:00pm on Friday, September 22
nd.
