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VB Iowa Bound
Al Kawashima

Women's Volleyball

Eagles Bound for Iowa

Box Score KIRKLAND, Wash. - Northwest University will make their first trip to Sioux City, Iowa and the NAIA Volleyball National Championships in school history as they defeated Reinhardt University of Waleska, Ga., in straight sets, 25-16, 25-16, 25-12, this afternoon in first round play. The NU Eagles dispatched the RU Eagles from Waleska in a little over one hour and fifteen minutes with efficient offensive and defensive play.
 
NU will join today's 11 other first round winners with 19 other qualifiers in Sioux City and the Tyson Events Center. Play will begin at the final site on November 28. The 32 teams that advanced to Sioux City, Iowa, will be put into pools, to be announced on Sunday evening on NAIA.org. 
 
The Eagles broke open a close set that was tied at 12-12 with a 9-0 scoring run to go up 21-12 after Amanda Waterman's service ace. From that point on, NU controlled the set with Sarah Warner ending it with a kill.
 
In set two, Northwest U broke out to a 13-9 lead and would increase their lead to 21-12 after Morgan Pilon's kill and a Reinhardt error. A 4-0 Reinhardt run would close the gap to 22-16, but back-to-back kills by Mattie Jo Johnson would give NU the set and a 2-0 lead in the match. 
 
The final set would be all Northwest U as they would put the Appalachian Athletic Conference champions down 20-8 aided by four straight RU attack errors. Kylie Szczepanski would take Morgan Pilon's assist for a kill to end the set and match and setting up the Eagles first trip to the NAIA national championships in the Tyson Event Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
 
Northwest U (23-8) hit .363 as a team with Mattie Johnson leading the way with 13 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Sarah Warner added 9 kills hitting .421 with Morgan Pilon registering a match high 32 assists. Alysanne Van Dyke led all players with 13 digs.
 
Cheetara Bing led Reinhardt (29-7) with 7 kills with teammate Erinn Marroquin adding 20 assists. Kersten Joyner led the Eagles with 9 digs. RU was limited to .056 hitting for the match as Northwest U came up with 11 blocks.
 
We knew coming into this match that we would be facing a worthy opponent and so our ladies took their preparation seriously," said Steven Bain, NU head coach. "Reinhardt was able to do some really good things and we especially admired how hard they played on their side of the net. I liked our defensive approach as well and one of the differences in the match was our ability to serve our identity and force them into tough swings. Our serve receive was also solid, which allowed us to side out at a high level and at the end of the day those two factors allowed us to control the match. We are, of course, very grateful for the victory and are excited to extend our season and participate in the National Tournament."
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Morgan Pilon

#7 Morgan Pilon

S
5' 9"
Freshman
Mattie Jo Johnson

#10 Mattie Jo Johnson

MB
6' 0"
Freshman
Amanda Waterman

#11 Amanda Waterman

OH
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Morgan Pilon

#7 Morgan Pilon

5' 9"
Freshman
S
Mattie Jo Johnson

#10 Mattie Jo Johnson

6' 0"
Freshman
MB
Amanda Waterman

#11 Amanda Waterman

5' 10"
Freshman
OH