Third-ranked Northwestern defeated 18th-ranked Doane 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-22) in the GPAC Volleyball Championship played tonight in Orange City, Iowa. The Red Raiders, who won the regular season championship as well, won their 20th straight match and improve to 33-2 on the season. Doane, the third seed in the 12-team tournament, falls to 28-8. Both teams will advance to the NAIA National Volleyball Championship.

Both teams played a very close first set with four lead changes and 10 ties. Northwestern outscored Doane 4-1 to take a 19-16 lead and later extended it to 22-18. The Tigers came back to tie it again at 22 until the Raiders scored three of the next four point to take the first set, 25-23.

Doane jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the second set but the Raiders rallied to tie it at 14. With the score tied at 18, Doane outscored NWC 6-2 and led 24-20 and served for the set. Northwestern recorded a sideout and senior Kristin Kooima led a dramatic comeback, serving five straight points and on an ace block by Hillary Hanno, the Raiders won the second set 26-24.

With the momentum in their favor, Northwestern came out and scored the first five points of the third set and led 10-4. Once again, the Tigers rallied to take a 15-13 lead. The Raiders, however, pulled ahead for good with four straight points and charged ahead to a 23-19 lead en route to a 25-22 win in the final set.

Northwestern hit .250 for the match, led by Randa Hulstein with 18 kills in 40 attempts (35%) and five blocks. Hillary Hanno hit 35% and registered 11 kills while Rylee Hulstein (8) and Bobbie jean Rich (7) were the other top hitters. Kaitlin Beaver lofted up 37 assists and Janna Bloemendaal and Delainye Woudstra led the team with 16 and 13 digs. Kristin Kooima went 16-for-17 from the service line.

Doane hit .210 and was led by Jessy Livers with 13 kills while Terra Andreasen totaled 12. Livers led the Tigers with 16 digs and missed just one serve in 12 attempts.

Courtesy: Northwestern Sports Information.