Bulldogs fall to 1-5 in GPAC play with 3-0 loss to Northwestern

Northwestern College picked up a 3-0 GPAC volleyball win over Concordia University on Friday evening in Seward.  Scores of the match were 25-22, 25-17 and 25-21.  The visiting Raiders moved to 10-12 overall and 3-2 in the GPAC.  Concordia slipped to 7-13 overall and 1-5 in conference play with the loss.  

Northwestern jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the first set and led by eight at 24-16 before Concordia rallied late.  The Bulldogs got within two at 24-22 before Northwestern secured the win.  Set two remained close early on, but the Raiders pulled away.  Concordia would get as close as seven down the stretch, and Northwestern took the commanding 2-0 lead.  

Set three went down to the wire.  The Raiders jumped out to a 10-5 lead, but the Bulldogs rallied to tie the match at 10-10.  There were multiple ties and lead changes, and Concordia held its final lead of the set at 21-20.  However, back-to-back ace serves by Heather Goehring reclaimed the lead for Northwestern at 22-21.  The Raiders took the next three points and secured the 3-0 win.  

Megan Hutson and Kate Boersma each delivered nine kills to pace Northwestern offensively.  Rylee Hulstein and Jennie Jansen added seven and six kills, respectively, for the Red Raiders.  Alexis Bart and Goehring each had a team-high 14 digs, while Hutson and Jaci Moret each added 13 digs for Northwestern defensively.  

Amanda Kisker (Lincoln, Neb.) and Amanda Abbott (Temecula, Calif.) each had six kills for the Bulldogs.  Kisker added a match-high 15 digs.  Kayla James (Gibbon, Neb.) handed out 11 assists for Concordia on the night.  

The Bulldogs host Morningside College on Saturday at the Walz Human Performance Complex.  The JV contest is scheduled for 3 with the varsity match to follow at 4:30.