Northwestern Upsets Bryan in NCCAA Pool Play
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Nov. 29, 2007) – Eighth-seeded Northwestern College upset No. 5 Bryan College 3-0 (30-26, 30-16, 30-24) in the first round of pool play at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Volleyball Tournament on Thursday.

The Eagles were rolling on offense all afternoon, starting where they left off in the regular season as Northwestern won the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. Head coach Beth Wilmeth got 12 kills out of Steph Koth (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) and 10 out of Kathryne Engel (Wayzata, Minn./West Lutheran) in the three game set. As a team, NWC tallied 20 more kills than Bryan at 49-29, and hit .248 for the match, while the Lions countered with .036. The Eagles never hit below .220 in any of the three games.

Northwestern was also strong on the defensive front, out-blocking Bryan 8-2 and holding a 72-67 advantage in digs.

Laura Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) added nine kills for the Eagles in a match where the junior hit an impressive .471. Sarah Whitmore also hit. 400 in a seven-kill performance.

The Lions, who were never able to string a long rally together, were led by Amber Smith’s seven kills. Kathryn Rawley also had a team-high 18 digs in the match.

Both the Eagles and Lions return to action almost immediately on Thursday, as they play Southwestern Assemblies of God and Indiana Wesleyan in 6 p.m. bouts.