NEW ULM, Minn. - The University of Northwestern Volleyball team began a four-match road trip Friday night by traveling to Martin Luther College, looking to stay unbeaten in UMAC play this season. That goal was achieved, as the Eagles won convincingly, 25-7, 25-17, 25-18. The win wasn't the only goal UNW had in mind; however, as junior setter
Addeson Jenniges (Walnut Grove, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) entered the match needing just six assists to reach 2,000 for her career. Jenniges was able to blow past that mark, recording 32 on the night and setting Northwestern's hitters up to the tune of a .532 hitting percentage in a dominant showing.
Jenniges knocked out five assists in quick succession, as the Eagles raced out to a 9-1 lead in set one. A pair of
Ana Egge (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian) aces capped off a 4-0 spurt that extended the lead to 16-3, and Jenniges's milestone came at 20-6, with some help from
Anja Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne), who produced the kill. UNW finished the set on a 6-1 run to close out the frame, 25-7, behind five kills and two aces from Egge, and 10 assists from Jenniges.
Martin Luther was able to keep things tighter early in the second set, evening the score at seven-apiece. A 7-2 run put Northwestern in the driver's seat, and a 5-0 run moments later gave the visitors firm control at 19-11. After two more Egge kills and an
Elese Paplow (Lakefield, Minn./Jackson County Central) ace, the Eagles closed out the set, 25-17.
While the Knights never led in set three, they were able to keep things close yet again for much of the frame. Tied 8-8, UNW used two
Norah Jaeb (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) kills and one from Egge to give itself a three-point cushion, but MLC was soon able to pull within one. But Northwestern's front line was too much for the hosts to overcome, led by
Miranda Wyatt's (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan Christian) two kills and one block in a 7-1 surge that put the Eagles ahead, 22-15. One more kill each for Wyatt and Egge put an end to the sweep with a 25-18 win in the third set.
Jenniges's 32 assists were a season-high, and she added four digs, defensively. Egge led the hitters with 17 kills on .517 hitting, and added two aces and four digs, while Jaeb hit an astounding .917 on her way to 11 kills. Wyatt was just as impressive, hitting .900 for her nine kills, adding three blocks. As a team, Northwestern hit .532 in 77 opportunities.
Alana Costello (Mead, Colo./Mead) tied for team highs in aces (2) and digs (5), while Paplow and
Grace Moravchik (Mason, Wis./Ashland) each added an ace, and finished with four and five digs, respectively.
Libby Weckman (Shakopee, Minn./Southwest Christian) also recorded five digs, in addition to nine assists.
The 13-4 (5-0 UMAC) Eagles will visit Bethany Lutheran Saturday at 1:00 PM.
