The Northwestern volleyball team is ranked fifth this week and showed why with three GPAC wins against Dana, Midland Lutheran and Concordia.
“The girls had a good week last week,” Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch said. “Our JV team and our varsity team both are competing at a high level.”
On Oct. 2, the Raiders hosted Dana. The Raiders wasted no time, sweeping Dana 3-0, winning 25-7, 25-20 and 25-13. This bumped NW’s record to 19-2 overall and 5-0 in GPAC play. Since 1989, the Raiders are now 31-0 against Dana.
Sisters senior Randa and sophomore Rylee Hulstein both put up big numbers against the Vikings. Rylee had 10 kills along with five digs. Randa threw down 13 kills with 11 digs and two blocks.
Hilary Hano had a big night as well with eight kills and eight digs. Lofting up 36 assists on the night was junior Kaitlin Beaver.
The Raiders had a quick turnaround after the victory over Dana. The next day, Oct. 3, Midland Lutheran came to Orange City to compete against the Raiders.
Midland Lutheran competed well in the 3-1 Raider victory. NW won by the scores of 25-17, 25-20, 15-25 and 25-11.
Hano led NW with 25 kills, hitting .553, popping up 9 digs and recording 3.5 blocks. Bobbie Jean Rich also put up good numbers, hitting .611 and spiking down 12 kills along with her 3 digs. Randa Hulstein had 11 kills and 15 digs on the night while Rylee Hulstein had 12 digs and received 23 serves for the Raiders. Beaver had an amazing night with 58 assists.
On Tuesday, the Raiders hosted Dak. Wesleyan, who came into the game 11-12 and 1-5 in the GPAC. The Raiders were victorious, winning three straight games 25-11, 25-14 and 25-15.
In the eighth straight Raider win, Hano led the way. She shot down 10 kills, hitting .529. Randa Hulstein had nine kills, bringing her season total to 300, along with six digs. With seven kills, eight digs and 11 serves received, Rylee Hulstein also put up big numbers for the Raiders. Beaver tossed up 31 assists in the match as well.
On the week, Van Den Bosch feels as if his team has “been making an intentional effort for play for [God’s] glory.”
This week, the Raiders travel to Concordia on Oct. 9, then head to Hastings on Oct. 10 and finally return home to take on Mount Marty on Oct. 14.
