Senior Randa Holstein spikes the ball against Dordt. Northwestern went on to win the game 3-0 . Holstein finished the week by setting the all-time block record, setting it at 618. Photo by Emily Gowing.
Senior Randa Holstein set a school record in career blocks this week at Mount Marty, but there was nothing blocking the Raiders from picking up two more conference wins.
The first win came at home against the rival Dordt College. The Raiders managed to win the match 3-0 by the scores of 25-21, 25-20 and 25-21.
“I was very pleased with our whole team on Saturday evening versus Dordt. I felt like we served the ball and serve-received very well as a team that night,” head coach Kyle Van Den Bosch said.
Northwestern was led by Hulstein, who threw down 11 kills, three blocks and 14 digs. Junior Hillary Hanno was able to come up with 10 kills as well. Sophomore Rylee Hulstein got in the mix as well with eight kills alongside eight digs. Junior Kaitlin Beaver assisted 31 times over the three games.
As a team, Northwestern had seven ace serves, four by freshman Heather Goehring. The Raiders managed to pick up nine team blocks throughout the three games, all while shutting out Dordt in the block category.
“Each player played very well in her role,” Van Den Bosch said.
The Raiders followed up that victory by traveling to Yankton, S.D. to take on GPAC foe Mount Marty.
The game finished with a 3-0 NW victory once again.
Hulstein had eight kills along with five blocks. With her five blocks she moves ahead of Krista Westera (1995-98) in career blocks. The old record sat at 615, but Hulstein now has 618 and will continue to improve on that throughout her senior season.
Hanno added seven kills of her own along with one block. Rylee Hulstein added six kills along with freshmen Jennifer Jansen’s five. Beaver tied a career-high in ace serves with five along with 28 assists.
The fifth-ranked Raiders finished the week with a 10-1 record, along with being undefeated in the GPAC (3-0).
This week the Raiders will travel to Bourbannais, Ill. where they will take on three top 25 opponents in the Holiday Inn Express Tournament.
