Springfield, Mo. – No. 7 Northern State went 1-1 from the opening day of the Drury Invitational falling to No. 18 Northwest Missouri State and defeating the host (RV) Drury.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score (GM1): NSU 1, NWMU 3 (25-19, 11-25, 22-25, 23-25)
Final Score (GM2): NSU 3, DU 0 (25-13, 25-9, 25-18)
Records: NSU 5-1, NWMSU 5-0, DU 2-5
Game 1 – No. 18 Northwest Missouri State
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Wolves took the first set with a score of 25-19 holding the Bearcats to a .045 hitting percentage with just nine kills
- Northwest however fought back in the second set keeping the Wolves off balance and forcing six hitting errors
- Northern notched a .179 hitting percentage in the match with 23 attack errors
- NSU tallied 49 kills, 41 assists, four blocks, three aces, and a match high 54 digs as a team
- The third and fourth sets had a much tighter spread with Northwest winning by just two and three points respectively
- The Wolves net defense was unable to keep Hallie Sidney at bay, who tallied a match high 19 kills and racked up 20.5 points
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Game 2 – (RV) Drury University
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Northern jumped out to an early lead, out-scoring the Panthers 50-22 through the first two sets
- The Wolves bounced back offensively hitting .412 as a unit with 46 kills and just six attack errors
- NSU added 40 assists, 44 digs, four aces, and a season high 12.0 blocks
- Defensively they kept the Panthers in check, as Drury hit a mere .062 with 21 attack errors and 27 kills
- Specifically in the first two sets, NSU held Drury to a 0.000 hitting percentage, while the Wolves hit a match high .682 in the second
- Three Wolves finished the match hitting above .400, with no one suffering more than two hitting errors
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Sally Gaul: 15 kills, .542 attack %, 4 blocks
- Snyder: 10 kills, .333 attack %, 4 blocks
- Ellingson: 8 blocks (career high), 2 kills
- Rozell: 32 assists, 6 kills, 6 digs
- Langlie: 15 digs, 2 aces
UP NEXT
The Wolves are back in action for day two of the Drury Invitational at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. versus Truman State University and Missouri Western State.