No. 7 Northwestern Holds Back Tiger Volleyball

Orange City, Iowa – The Doane volleyball team showed flashes of strong play Saturday evening but came up short against No. 7 Northwestern, dropping a three-set decision (18-25, 14-25, 20-25) inside the Bultman Center.

The Tigers (12-10, 3-5 GPAC) matched the Red Raiders point for point early in the opening set, jumping out to a 6-3 lead behind kills from Brooke Larsen and Kate Roseland. Doane continued to apply pressure midway through the frame, cutting the deficit to 17-18 before Northwestern closed on a 7-1 run to claim the opener.

Northwestern (16-3, 8-0 GPAC) carried that momentum into the second set, using a strong block and four early attack errors by the Tigers to build a cushion. Doane battled back late, with Addison Raebel and Natalie Wood combining for kills, but the Raiders' offense proved too steady in a 25-14 decision.

The third set showcased the Tigers' resilience. Doane and Northwestern traded points through 16 ties and seven lead changes. Larsen, who finished with a team-high 11 kills, and Wood, who added 11 of her own, sparked the Tiger offense. Setter Camdyn Carpenter directed the attack with 30 assists while adding 11 digs for a double-double. Doane trailed just 19-18 before Northwestern closed out the match with six of the final eight points.

Defensively, Lillian Parolek collected 10 digs for the Tigers, while Kaylee Rammell anchored the back row with 12. Overall, Doane tallied 52 digs and limited Northwestern to extended rallies, forcing the Raiders to earn points deep into several possessions.

Northwestern's balanced attack proved the difference, with Maddy Sampson recording 13 kills on a .600 hitting percentage, while Liv Reitsma set the pace with 21 assists and four service aces. The Red Raiders also controlled the net, out-blocking Doane 11-1.

Despite the setback, the Tigers demonstrated growth against one of the GPAC's top programs, especially in a third set that highlighted their ability to compete stride for stride.

Doane returns to action Friday night when they host Dakota Wesleyan inside the Haddix Center. First serve is set for 7:30 PM.