Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)

The 20^th-ranked Northern State volleyball team won a thrilling come-from-behind match over No. 18 Wayne State Friday night in a pivotal match with both regional and conference implications. Set scores went 25-23, 20-25, 11-25 and 15-13. With the win, the Wolves recorded a season sweep over WSC.

NSU improved to 20-4 overall and 13-4 in the NSIC. Trailing 15-11 in set one, the duo of Kelsey Chambers and Tori Biach took over for the Wolves down the stretch as they recorded five and three kills, respectively the rest of the set as Northern ended on a 14-8 run. Chambers and Cari McGarvie sealed the win with a block for set point.

After dropping the next two sets, Northern responded to stay alive to force the deciding fifth set. The two teams traded points throughout the set and NSU took a timeout trailing 11-10. This time, it was time for McGarive and Jussy Tuscherer to take over for Northern. Tuscherer recorded back-to-back kills to give the Wolves the lead back. After Wayne tied it at 12-12, McGarvie and Tuscherer scored the next two points with McGarvie sealing the match with a kill.

Chambers led the Wolves with 19 kills in the win and also added four block assists. Macey Finizio and Tuscherer each added 12 kills while Biach and McGarvie had 11 apiece. Biach and Tuscherer each had a solo block and three assists in the match while McGarvie had four block assists.

Drew Smith recorded her seventh double-double of the year as she led the Wolves with a season-high 59 assists and a career-best 18 digs in the victory. Sami Nygaard had a team-high 21 digs on the night while Renee Hoffman added nine.  Tuscherer had her fourth double-double of the season as she had 10 digs for NSU.

Northern grabbed the win despite getting out-hit .325 to .284 in the match and also having five blocking errors while the Wildcats had none.

The Wolves get no time to relax however as they travel to face Augustana Saturday in a 4 p.m. match. The Vikings currently sit eighth in the regional rankings while Northern is ninth. The top eight teams in the region make the NCAA regional tournament. Wayne State was 10^th in the regional rankings.