The Dordt University volleyball team pushed undefeated in the GPACÂ Northwestern to five sets Tuesday night before the Red Raiders rallied for a 23-25, 25-22, 21-25, 28-26, 15-7 victory at the Vos Family Gym in Sioux Center.
Box Score (PDF)
Dordt, which fell to 20-8 overall and 11-5 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play, answered Northwestern's scoring runs throughout the match. The Red Raiders improved to 25-1 overall and finished unbeaten in GPAC play at 16-0.
The Defenders opened the match with a strong finish to the first set. After building a 17-13 advantage, Dordt weathered a Northwestern push that brought the Red Raiders within 21-19. Northwestern eventually closed the gap to 23-22, but a kill by
Shayna Van Dyken gave Dordt set point, and Van Dyken finished the set with another kill for a 25-23 win.
Northwestern responded in the second set, but Dordt put together a three-point stretch to pull within 13-12 after trailing 13-10. The Defenders regained control briefly with consecutive points from
Laney Wolfswinkel and a block by
Ada Dekkers and
Haley Kuperus to move ahead 15-13. Dordt extended the lead to 19-15, only to see Northwestern answer with a late surge. The Red Raiders scored six straight points to turn a 21-19 deficit into a 25-22 set victory and even the match.
The third set featured another Northwestern lead and a Dordt comeback. The Red Raiders moved ahead 11-8 and later held a 17-15 advantage. Dordt responded with a decisive six-point run, highlighted by a Wolfswinkel kill, a
Peyton Poppema service ace, and two kills from
Breanna Beckering. The stretch turned a two-point deficit into a 21-17 Dordt lead. The Defenders maintained the advantage and closed out the set 25-21 to take a 2-1 match lead.
Dordt appeared poised to finish the match in the fourth set. After trailing 4-2, the Defenders scored six of the next eight points to take an 8-6 lead. A service ace by Poppema, a Dekkers kill and a block by Dekkers and Wolfswinkel helped Dordt build a 12-7 advantage.
The Defenders continued to hold the upper hand, eventually stretching the lead to 20-13. Northwestern, however, mounted a comeback. The Red Raiders scored seven of the next eight points to close within 21-20, then erased a 24-22 deficit to tie the set at 24-24. Dordt regained the lead twice, but Northwestern scored the final three points to claim a 28-26 win and force a deciding set.
Northwestern carried that momentum into the fifth set, scoring the first two points and building a 7-3 lead. The Red Raiders continued to add to the advantage, moving ahead 14-5 before Dordt answered with a kill by Van Dyken and a service ace from
Maddy Jackson. Northwestern closed out the match 15-7.
Dordt's 11 service aces were a significant advantage, led by
Kylie Beckering's five. Northwestern finished with a .241 hitting percentage compared to Dordt's .105, while the Defenders recorded 11 more service aces.
Dordt leaders
- Haley Kuperus: 13 kills, .200 hitting percentage, four block assists.
- Laney Wolfswinkel: 11 kills, 13.5 points, four total blocks.
- Ellie Weg: 11 kills, .207 hitting percentage, three block assists.
- Shayna Van Dyken: nine kills, one solo block.
- Breanna Beckering: eight kills, one solo block.
- Kylie Beckering: 18 digs, five service aces.
- Chloe Huisman: 25 assists, 12 digs.
- Carlee Jackson: 24 assists, five digs.
- Maddy Jackson: three service aces and five digs.
- Peyton Poppema: three service aces.
Team stat comparison
| Category |
Dordt |
Northwestern |
| Kills |
56 |
68 |
| Attack errors |
37 |
27 |
| Total attacks |
181 |
170 |
| Hitting percentage |
.105 |
.241 |
| Assists |
53 |
63 |
| Service aces |
11 |
2 |
| Service errors |
4 |
10 |
| Digs |
59 |
70 |
| Solo blocks |
2 |
0 |
| Block assists |
16 |
22 |
| Total blocks |
10 |
11 |
