Game Time... The Red Raider volleyball team begins an important weekend this evening as they travel to Seward, Neb., to play Concordia University, followed by a match-up against Hastings on Saturday night. Northwestern is 14-5 overall and ranked 14th in the latest NAIA rankings. Concordia is unranked and carries an 11-7 mark into tonight's contest while Hastings is 19th and 15-5 overall.
Scouting Report... Concordia is an even 2-2 in the GPAC and are among three teams in a tie for fourth place in the league standings. Last time out, the Bulldogs snapped a two-match losing streak with a 3-0 win over Midland Lutheran. As a team, they finished with 17 blocks, led by Dani Hoagland with eight. Katie Werner added five blocks and led the Bulldogs with 13 kills and a .385 hitting efficiency.
The Bulldogs return six players from their regular rotation in 2006, led by 1st team all-conference middle hitter, Katie Werner. Werner is averaging 3.4 kills and 1.9 blocks per game this season, both of which are team highs. Kelli Ziegler earned 2nd team honors in 2006 as a freshman and is averaging 2.7 kills, 5.7 assists and 4.2 digs this season. Kelsey Affolter (2.5 kpg) and Lauryn Nyhoff (1.5) are the other top weapons at the net for Concordia. Kate Brown, a 5-6 setter, averages 5.6 assists per game and has 19 ace serves this season in sharing the setting duties with Ziegler. Jacki Chandler and Abby Schuldheisz contribute in the back row and as designated servers. Chandler leads the team with 4.9 digs per game while Schuldheisz is serving 90% with 24 aces.
Hastings is the reigning GPAC champions after a perfect 16-0 season in 2006. This season the Broncos are 15-5 overall, 3-1 in the GPAC and ranked 19th in the NAIA. Head Coach Fred Aubuchon is in his fifth season at Hastings and has posted a 114-28 mark with the Broncos. Last time out, they knocked off Doane at home, 3-1.
This year's squad is led by senior Kelsea Jones. The 5'9" outside hitter earned honorable mention all-GPAC honors in 2006 and leads the team with 3.1 kills per game. Kinsey Dutoit (2.7 kpg), Megan White (2.5 kpg) and Jill Whalen (2.4 kpg) are the other top offensive weapons for the Broncos. Hastings also has 6'4" Alyssa Montgomery and 6'6" Katy Rieger, who combine to average over three blocks per game. Halley Van Laningham and Lyndi Rouzee share the setting duties and average 5.5 and 5.4 assists per game respectively. Van Laningham ranks second on the team with 30 ace serves, just four behind Melynne Kessler with 34. Jacqui Smith takes over the libero position and averages 4.2 digs per game and is serving 95%.
Last Time Out... Northwestern rolled to their fourth consecutive victory with a 3-0 win over USF. Hillary Hanno (14), Megan Meyer (12) and Kaitlin Beaver (11) led the Red Raiders at the net. Janna Bloemendaal and Karrisa Davelaar led the back row with 14 and nine digs while as a team, NWC committed just two serve receive errors in the match.
Red Raider Notes... Northwestern boasts the second most kills in the GPAC averaging 14.9 per game. Five players are currently averaging over .24 kills per game, led by Bobbie jean Rich (3.1) and Megan Meyer (3). Randa Hulstein leads the team with 67 total blocks while Hillary Hanno has 62. Rachel Gosselink is second in the GPAC with 12.8 assists per game, leads the team with 3.1 digs per game and has 26 ace serves. Kaitlin Beaver is averaging 2.6 kills per game and leads the team with 28 aces.
Next up... Northwestern returns home for three matches next week, beginning with Dordt College on Wednesday, Oct. 3.
2007 media guide
