Last Saturday, Oct. 28, the Bultman Center housed one of the most anticipated volleyball match-ups of the regular season, Northwestern vs. Hastings. The Raiders would not be able to pull another upset against the Broncos, losing the decisive match 1-3.
In the last meet-up between these two teams, NW came out with the win in a five-set showdown away at Hastings. The first set of the match was a reminiscence of the match between the two hitting powerhouses last month. However, this time the Broncos would take the first set 25-23. Tied at 23 all, Hastings managed to steal the last two points to secure the first set of the night.
In the second set, NW looked to switch the score winning the second set of the night 25-23. The Raiders were on the attack in the second set with 12 kills. Sophomores AJ Horstman and Anna Kiel both had big kills in the set that allowed the Raiders to tie up the match 1-1.The rest of the night would not go as well for the Raiders. The Broncos would take the next two sets 25-16. In both sets, the Hastings net game limited the opportunity for the Red Raiders to profit off of strong offensive plays.
NW ends the regular season 27-3 and are tri-champions of the GPAC with Hastings and Doane. NW heads into post-season play as the second-ranked team in the GPAC and fourth behind Hastings in the NAIA standings. NW starts off the post-season against Briar Cliff at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 in the Bultman.
