SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team traveled to Saint Paul on Tuesday night for a pair of non-conference matches. The Gusties, ranked 25th in the nation won over the Loras Duhawks 3-1, and fell to the Northwestern Eagles 3-0. With the win and the loss the Gusties move to 19-5 overall and remain 5-1 in the MIAC.
Gustavus entered the first set with a 9-6 edge before climbing to a 16-12 lead and a 25-18 opener, while Kate Holtan (Sr., Rochester) made five kills in the process.
Loras pushed back in set two, tying it 11-11. The Gusties responded with a 9-3 run, and stayed on their momentum in a 25-17 second frame.
The Gusties began the third set with a four point run before Loras could cut into the deficit. Gustavus maintained the four point advantage at 16-12 before the Duhawks put up a 7-4 run. With a 22-22 tie, Loras added three kills to make it a 2-1 match.
Both teams traded points in set four at 6-6 before Gustavus stunned in an 11-2 final run to win the match 3-1.
Marlee Turn (So., Kennedy) recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs, while Holtan had 24 kills and 10 digs. Kasie Tweet (So., Adrian) served four aces and 47 assists and Hailey Embacher (Sr., Mankato) tacked on 20 digs.
The Gusties were faced with an uphill battle against a competitive Northwestern squad. Tied at 5-5 in the opening set, the Eagles took a seven point run that Gustavus couldn’t catch up to for a 25-17 first set.
Gustavus put the pressure on in the middle frame as both teams went shot for shot, Annalee Olson-Sola (Sr., Northfield) made a highlight-reel worthy kill to keep the Gusties in the game. Gustavus exploded in its attacking efforts, gaining their first lead of the match at 15-13, but the Eagles flipped the script and took a 2-0 match advantage.
Northwestern held the Gusties to a two point lead in the final set before accelerating in a 16-5 run to hand the Gusties a 3-0 loss.
Holtan added 11 kills and 13 digs, while Nora Lehmkuhl (Jr., Northfield) recorded 12 assists.
The Gusties are next in action when they host Concordia for a 7 p.m. conference match on Friday.