Volleyball Picks Up First Win Of The Season In 3-1 Victory Over Upper Iowa

OVERVIEW – UPPER IOWA (WARRIOR INVITATIONAL)

SCORE: Northwood Timberwolves 3, Upper Iowa Peacocks 2 (25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19)

RECORDS: Northwood 1-2/Upper Iowa 0-4

LOCATION: Matthaei Center – Detroit, Mich.

RECAP: Northwood Volleyball picks up its first win of the season with a 3-1 win over Upper Iowa at the Warrior Invitational Saturday (September 6).

INSIDE THE MATCH

• Upper Iowa scored the first three points and six of the first nine overall to start the match.  Northwood responded with five straight points to take their first lead at 8-6. The Peacocks got within one twice but were never able to level the score. NU's 11 point led at the end of the set (25-14) matched their biggest of the opening set.
• With the score tied 6-6 in the second set, Upper Iowa went on a big run which proved to be the key to the Peacocks leveling the match. Upper Iowa put up 10 straight points to take a 16-6 lead. The Timberwolves did not quit, however, fighting all the way back to get within one at 21-20 thanks to a 14-5 run. NU eventually got within one four times down the stretch but were never able to tie the score. The Peacocks took the set 25-23 to make the overall score 1-1.
• Northwood set the tone for the third set right away, scoring eight of the first nine points to take control. The two teams reversed rolls from the second set, as it was Upper Iowa who made a strong comeback from an early deficit in the third. After trailing by as many as eight in the set, the Peacocks came all the way back to get within one at 20-19. That was as close as UI would get, as NU went on to take the set 25-21 for a 2-1 advantage.
• The fourth set was tied 6-6 when Northwood made the first push of the frame, scoring seven of the next eight points to take a 13-7 lead. While Northwood did not run away with the set, Upper Iowa got no closer than three the rest of the way. NU took the set 25-19 and the match 3-1.

MATCH STATS

• HITTING: Upper Iowa .099 (50-34-162), Northwood .292 (56-14-144)
• DIGS: Upper Iowa 62, Northwood 67 (Laney Kokaly – 19)
• BLOCKS: Upper Iowa 43, Northwood 10 (Soleil Allen – Five)
• ACES: Upper Iowa 8, Northwood 4 (Renee Brines – Two)

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Mackenzie Scheid: 11 kills, four blocks, .321 attack percentage (11-2-28)
• Sage Kissman: 19 kills, nine digs
• Olivia Nester: 11 kills, 14 digs
• Ava Thomas: 13 digs
• Renee Brines: 41 assists, 10 digs, two aces, two blocks

NORTHWOOD NOTES

• At the conclusion of the event, Brines represented Northwood on the All-Tournament team.

UP NEXT

• Northwood travels to the Walsh Invitational Friday (September 12). NU takes on Seton Hill at Noon.