SIOUX CITY, IA. - In a battle between the top two seeds in the NAIA, Indiana Wesleyan volleyball claimed the program's first Red Banner on Tuesday night, defeating No. 1 Northwestern College 3-2 in the title game. The Wildcat's overcame a 2-1 deficit in front of 2,300 fans, capping off a perfect 38-0 record. The sophomore connection of Abbigail Porter and Eva Joldersma connected for the final point as Porter set Joldersma for the final kill.
- Location: Sioux City, IA | Tyson Event Center
- Records: IWU - 38-0, 18-0 CRL | NWC - 31-3, 14-2 GPAC
- NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU - #2 | NWC - #1
- Indiana Wesleyan opened the first set with a 5-2 run, but the momentum went to Northwestern as the Red Raiders put together an 8-2 run that gave them a three point advantage. From that point forward, NWC held the Wildcats at bay to take the opening set.
- IWU limited the NWC scoring runs to two and three points while the Wildcats were able to put together a couple of four point runs that would give them the advantage that allowed them to tie the match at a set apiece with a 25-20 set two win.
- The Red Raiders used an eight point run before the Wildcats got on the board in the third set. NWC continued its scoring run to 12-2 before Indiana Wesleyan found their footing. The Red Raiders, however, had enough space for a 25-13 set three win.
- Indiana Wesleyan answered Northwestern in set four, opening the set with a 9-4 run that they would extend to as many as eight points to tie the match up once again.
- The teams matched each other point for point in set five until a tie score of eight when IWU went on a four point run that gave the Wildcats the lead. Indiana Wesleyan allowed Northwestern only two points after their initial run en route to a 15-10 set five win and the program's first national title.
#
