Game Time... Northwestern plays host to Midland Lutheran and Dana this weekend in their final home games of the regular season. The Red Raiders play the Warriors on Friday night at 7:30 pm and will face Dana on Saturday night for Parent's/Senior night at 7:30 pm. NWC carries a seven match win streak with them into this weekend and are 22-7 overall. Midland Lutheran is 12-16 overall and Dana is 8-22.
Scouting Report... on Midland Lutheran- The Warriors snapped their five-game conference losing streak this past Wednesday night with a 3-0 victory over Dana. Individual game scores were 30-22, 30-27 and 30-20. Mikhala Newman registered a game-high 18 kills and hit .395 for the match. Megan Hoge added 13 kills and four blocks. MLC served 10 aces in the match, led by Amanda Hunt who recorded six in the three games.
With three matches left, the Warriors are in eighth place in the league and currently hold the final spot in the eight-team, GPAC postseason tournament. After tonight’s match, MLC will play Mount Marty tomorrow night and close the season at home against Concordia on Oct. 31.
On Dana- The Vikings have lost their five matches, all to GPAC opponents, and are 8-22 overall. In their last match, they lost to Midland Lutheran, 3-0, at home by the scores of 30-22, 30-27 and 30-20. Kali Brayfield was the lone Viking player in double figures with 11 kills. She also recorded five blocks. Danielle Neville added six kills and led the team with 11 digs.
Brayfield, who earned honorable mention all-league honors in 2006, leads the team averaging 2.9 kills per game. The sophomore also leads the team in hitting percentage (.175) and in blocks (1.1 per game). Neville averages 2.5 kills and 3.1 digs per game. Lacie Greiner ranks in the top 10 within the GPAC with 50 ace serves.
Last Time Out... Northwestern won their seventh straight league match last Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over Sioux Falls in the Bultman Center. Megan Meyer and Bobbie jean Rich recorded 11 kills each and Kaitlin Beaver added nine kills, seven digs and two ace serves in the win. Rachel Gosselink, who earned NAIA Setter-of-the-Week honors, lofted 39 assists and had three blocks.
Watching the Standings...With three matches remaining, the Red Raiders are in the thick of the race for the regular season title. They are currently third and trail Morningside and Hastings by just one game. Those two teams are playing against one another this evening in Sioux City. Northwestern holds a slim ½ game lead over Dordt and have a one game lead over Briar Cliff, who has games against Concordia, Hastings and Morningside left on their schedule.
Next Up... Northwestern will close the regular season on the road next week against Dordt College on Oct. 30. The GPAC postseason tournament will get underway next Saturday, Nov. 3 at the four highest seeds. Pairings for the tournament will be announced by the GPAC office late Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
2007 media guide
