MANKATO, Minn. - After surviving a first-set scare at Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday afternoon, the University of Northwestern Volleyball team was able to handle business the rest of the way, earning a 25-23, 25-13, 25-12 sweep to remain undefeated (6-0) in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. All six conference wins have been sweeps as have 13 of UNW's 14 wins this season.
It was the Vikings who had the early edge in the opening set, until a 3-0 Northwestern run, featuring back-to-back
Anna Olsen (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) kills, evened the score at eight. Bethany was able to recover and regain the lead, 12-8, but three-consecutive
Grace Moravchik (Mason, Wis./Ashland) aces sparked a 5-0 run that put the Eagles back in front, 13-12. It was then BLC's turn to make a run, as it raced ahead to a 21-16 advantage to put UNW on the ropes. But
Beth Wilmeth's squad did not waver, as
Anja Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Miranda Wyatt (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan Christian) led an 8-0 surge to bring the score to set point at 24-21, leaving those in Mankato stunned. Bethany Lutheran was able to score back-to-back points to extend the set, but another Jarchow kill ended it at 25-23.
Even with all the momentum on Northwestern's side after the comeback win in set one, the Vikings were able to keep things close for a while in the second frame. With UNW ahead 10-8, however, the visitors were able to rattle off eight straight, including a pair of
Addeson Jenniges (Walnut Grove, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) aces, to seize control and never look back. A 4-0 run closed out a 25-13 win to put the Eagles on the brink of earning another sweep.
The early stages of set three were rather close as well, but consecutive aces from
Elese Paplow (Lakefield, Minn./Jackson County Central) allowed UNW to extend its lead to 13-7. For the remainder of the set, nearly every Eagle who saw the floor contributed, and they put their stamp on yet another conference sweep with a 7-1 run to close it out at 25-12.
Northwestern spread the ball around well, but it was Egge who led the kill count with nine, in addition to an ace. Olsen chipped in eight kills and two blocks, while
Norah Jaeb (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) logged six kills. Wyatt led the defensive side of the net with three blocks, while Moravchik and
Alana Costello (Mead, Colo./Mead) tied for the team lead in digs with seven each, adding four and one aces, respectively. Paplow, Jenniges and Weckman all tallied two aces, with the latter two dishing out 14 and 12 assists, respectively.
UNW will be on the road for a pair of conference matches again next weekend, beginning with Minnesota Morris on Friday night. First serve is set for 7:00 PM in Morris.
