The fourth-ranked Northwestern volleyball team tasted bitter defeat for the first time this season on Wednesday, Dec. 1, after falling in pool play to 17th ranked Point Loma Nazarene 3-1 (30-28, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23). NW is now 36-1 on the year.
NW hit .171 on the match and was led by senior Hillary Hanno’s 15 kills. Junior Rylee Hulstein added nine kills. Senior Bobbie jean Rich and sophomore Kate Buyert each had eight kills and five blocks. Senior Kaitlin Beaver added five blocks to her 38 assists. Sophomore Jaci Moret and Hulstein combined to lead the Raiders with 15 digs.
The Raiders could not find an answer for junior All-American Tabitha Henken of Point Loma, who tallied 28 kills on the match.
Tuesday night, Nov. 30, saw the Raiders pick up a win against Malone, Ohio, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-18) in their first round of pool play. NW had 22 blocks to limit Malone to a negative hitting efficiency (-.09).
Hanno tallied 15 kills and sophomore Jennie Jansen added eight kills and Buyert registered six. Rich led the team with seven blocks. Beaver had 35 assists, five kills and three ace serves. Hulstein’s 19 digs led the back row.
The Raiders found themselves in a must-win situation Thursday night, Dec. 2, against Lewis-Clark State. Results were not available at press time.
