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Author: Dave Riggert

Western volleyball splits two matches Saturday to finish 2-2

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The Missouri Western volleyball team went 1-1 on the final day of the Lady Buff Classic held in Canyon, Texas by West Texas A&M. Western opened up the day with a five set victory over Texas-Permian Basin (25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-11, before falling 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 27-25) against host school West Texas A&M closing out the classic. Western went 2-2 in the classic with their other victory coming against Eastern New Mexico University.

Texas-Permian Basin

The two teams played a close match opening up the final day of the Lady Buff Classic. The Griffons and Falcons played the first thirty points of the first set even before Western took four straight points giving them a 19-15 lead. The two teams scored six points apiece down the stretch but Western ended the set on a Tahler Johnston kill.

The Falcons tied the set at one taking set two 25-20. The Falcons scored five of the final eight points to claim the victory. Western came back winning set three 25-22 but once again the Falcons tied up the match at two taking set four in dominating fashion 25-14.

In set five the Griffons jumped out to a 6-1 lead and was able to hold on for the 15-11 victory in the set and a 3-2 match victory.

Western hit .171 with Johnston leading the way with 18 kills while Alex Behnke pitched in 11. Behnke hit .450 in the match. Stephanie Hattey had 30 set assists while Kelly Scannell pitched in 19. Sarah Faubel had 17 of the Griffons 56 digs.

The Falcons were led by Alex Genung with 18 kills while Melissa Lusk had 13. Sara Torres had 24 set assists while Ariel Fralick had 23. Defensively Danae Eckart had 19 digs. The Falcons fell to 0-3 with the loss.

West Texas A&M

The Lady Buffs dominated the fist two sets winning 25-12 and 25-16. Western played with West Texas A&M in set three but could not close out the set.

Western led 23-21 after a kill by Shelby Corkill but the Lady Buffs won six of the final eight points taking the set 27-25 and the match 3-0.

The Griffons hit .186 in the match with Behnke leading the charge with 10 kills. Hattey finished with 21 set assists while Johnston had 10 digs and nine kills.

West Texas had 12 kills apiece by Halie Harton and Stormi Lancaster. Lacy Hayes had 42 set assists while Lauren Beville had 13 digs. The Lady Buffs hit .376 in the match. The Lady Buffs improved to 3-0 with the victory.

The Griffons return to action on Friday, September 9 when they take on Chadron State at 2:00 pm and Nebraska-Kearney at 8:00 pm in the UNK Fall Classic presented by Best Western & Runza in Kearney, Neb.

— Associated Press —

Bearcat volleyball team drops two matches Saturday

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The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to close out the Nebraska-Omaha Showcase on Saturday, 3-1, to Augustana and Winona State at Sapp Fieldhouse.

The Bearcats fell to 2-2 on the season after sweeping both matches in the tournament’s opening round on Friday.

Northwest kept all four matches close with hot hitting Augustana before falling, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 in their morning match. The Vikings hit .500 in the first set before Northwest turned the tables to hit .321 as a team taking the second set.

A trio of Bearcats finished with double figure kills as they were led by Brooke Bartosh with 14. Alex Hannah and Amy Majors recorded 14 and 10 kills respectively while Hannah was very efficient hitting .417 in the match.

Tori Beckman was solid again on the defensive side of the net picking up right where she left off on Friday adding 24 digs.

In the nightcap Northwest would fall to Winona State, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 25-15. WSU was also exceptional on the offensive side of the net hitting over .400 in two matches including their opening set where they finished at an even .500 clip.

Beckman again provided a solid defensive performance with 20 digs in the loss. Beckman finished the tournament with 80 digs in four matches.

Hanna added 11 kills to lead Northwest against Winona State.

The Bearcats continue action next weekend at the Southwest Baptist Purple Bash Friday and Saturday. Northwest opens action on Friday with Arkansas-Fort Smith and Central Oklahoma. They close out play on Saturday with Minnesota State and Lindenwood.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Jayhawks open with win over McNeese State

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Jordan Webb threw three touchdown passes and ran for another, and Kansas, flashing the improved speed coach Turner Gill had promised, beat McNeese State 42-24 Saturday night in a season opener delayed almost 25 minutes by rain.

JaCorey Shepherd caught three passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He went 56 yards for one score and then, after getting wide open on a fourth-and-3 play in the fourth quarter, hauled in a 48-yard pass for another.

Kansas also got touchdown runs from James Sims, who totaled 104 yards on 19 carries, and Tony Pierson.

The Jayhawks looked snappy and much faster than last year, when they struggled to a 3-9 finish in Gill’s first season, beginning with a shocking 6-3 loss to Division II North Dakota State.

Webb, who started seven games in an injury-marred 2010 season, attempted only 10 passes, but completed seven for 146 yards.

Pierson, a true freshman, went 47 yards on his first carry to set up a touchdown and 13 yards into the end zone the second time he touched the ball. He had 73 yards on five carries.

Cody Stroud was 22 for 27 for 210 yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys. He alternated with Riley Dodge, who was 9 for 14 for 107 yards and another TD.

After getting stopped cold on their first possession, the Jayhawks went 84 yards in eight plays on their second, with Webb hitting Daymond Patterson on a 25-yard scoring pass following Sims’ 30-yard scamper up the middle.

The Jayhawks took a 21-3 lead into halftime following Sims’ 1-yard touchdown run and Pierson’s 13-yard carry out of a wildcat formation.

The Cowboys scored on their first possession of the second half, rolling 76 yards in 12 plays. Stroud flipped a short pass to Champlain Babin, who got two excellent blocks while going into the end zone. Babin had five catches for 108 yards.

The Jayhawks answered with Shepherd’s 56-yard catch-and-run. Shepherd and Kale Pick seemed to be running the same route, and both had their hands up. But Shepherd, a couple of steps behind Pick, was the one who pulled in the ball.

McNeese State’s Dodge, on fourth-and-14, found a wide-open Wes Briscoe for a 32-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. Then back came the Jayhawks, with Sims getting a short touchdown run for a 35-16 lead early in the fourth.

Stroud connected with Babin on a 60-yard pass play, then got into the end zone two plays later. He hit Damion Dixon for a two-point conversion that made the score 35-24 with 8:32 to go before Webb hooked up with Shepherd on another long scoring pass.

— Associated Press —

Late TD lifts Kansas State past Eastern Kentucky

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Collin Klein connected with Chris Harper on a 37-yard touchdown pass with 1:39 left, and Kansas State escaped with a sloppy 10-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday night to give longtime coach Bill Snyder his 150th win.

Kansas State fumbled five times — losing four of them — and struggled to get anything going against its opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision.

The plucky Colonels, picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference, took a 7-0 lead with 4:26 remaining in the third quarter when freshman quarterback Jared McClain plunged in from a yard out. The TD was set up when Kansas State running back Bryce Brown fumbled the ball away.

Anthony Cantele, who earlier missed a 37-yard field goal try, drew Kansas State within 7-3 when he hit from 36 yards out with 11:36 left in the game.

The Kansas State defense managed to stop Eastern Kentucky on its ensuing possession, giving Klein and the offense the ball at its 14. The junior quarterback hit Harper for 10 yards, mixed in a couple of runs, connected with Harper again on an 8-yard completion, and converted a third-and-3 situation when he scrambled for four yards in front of the Wildcats’ bench.

Two plays later, Klein saw Harper coming open on a skinny post route and hit him in stride as the crowd of 50,292 erupted for the first time all night. The touchdown gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game, and allowed them to win their 22nd consecutive home opener.

Things started out poorly for Kansas State and didn’t get a whole lot better.

Klein was forced to call timeout on third-and-9 on the Wildcats’ opening possession, and then proceeded to fumble the snap and give the Colonels the ball. The defense stiffened, though, and Eastern Kentucky’s Luke Pray eventually missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

The Wildcats went three-and-out on their next possession, a promising seven-play drive stalled at the Colonels 22, Ty Zimmerman fumbled a punt a few moments later, and the defense allowed Eastern Kentucky to march inside the Kansas State 10 before Nigel Malone intercepted McClain’s pass late in the first quarter to preserve the scoreless game.

The comedy of errors continued once the teams switched directions.

Klein was picked off by Brooklyn Fox on a jump ball to end one drive, and another drive halted after Klein failed to notice the blitz and was sacked for a 13-yard loss.

The two teams went into the locker room with zeros on the scoreboard.

It remained that way most of the second half and at one point the Wildcats appeared like they might not score in a game for the first time since 1996. But the Wildcats managed to find just enough offense to hand Eastern Kentucky its 19th consecutive non-conference road loss.

The Colonels haven’t beaten an FBS school since knocking off Louisville in 1985.

— Associated Press —

Martinez leads Nebraska to blowout win over Chattanooga

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The offense is new, but there’s no doubt Nebraska relies on the same guy to make it go.

Taylor Martinez ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns out of the no-huddle system and the No. 10 Cornhuskers beat Chattanooga 40-7 Saturday in their first game as Big Ten members.

Martinez showed no signs of the toe and ankle injuries that limited him the second half of last season. He scored on runs of 7, 43 and 47 yards and completed 11 of 22 passes for 116 yards before giving way to Brion Carnes in the fourth quarter.

“I thought early in the game Taylor was very anxious. He was putting a lot of pressure on himself,” coach Bo Pelini said. “He didn’t get a lot of help around him at times. We had some busts around him, but overall, not a bad day.”

The Huskers’ new system under first-year offensive coordinator Tim Beck revealed lots of triple-option plays and quick short passes.

Old-school Nebraska fans surely loved Beck’s first call of the game. Tyler Legate’s 1-yard run marked the first time a fullback had carried the ball for Nebraska since 2004.

But make no mistake, this offense is built around Martinez’s strengths as a runner. He carried 19 times, which might be a bit more than ideal for a quarterback the Huskers desperately need to keep healthy.

“I didn’t know how many times I ran,” Martinez said. “It’s pretty much based on what the defense is running and giving us.”

Rex Burkhead added 75 yards and a touchdown and the Cornhuskers had 364 total yards as they won their 26th consecutive opener, the longest streak in the nation.

The Huskers lost yards on seven plays in the first half and on five more in the second. Martinez dropped a snap, made a bad pitch under pressure and had Burkhead bump into him from behind as he set up to pass.

“We came out a little slow and weren’t clicking,” Burkhead said. “We have a lot of things to improve upon as a team to be where we want to be. If we want to be good in the Big Ten, we have to improve on them every day.”

The Huskers started three underclassmen on the offensive line for the first time in three years.

Martinez ran for three or more touchdowns for the fourth time in his 14 career games, but Saturday’s were his first since in nine games.

“Martinez, how many third downs did we have? He scrambles up the middle and gets a first down,” Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. “He needs 10 yards, he gets 12. That is what good players do.”

Burkhead set up Martinez’s first TD by turning a pitch into a career-long 52-yard run to the Chattanooga 7.

Martinez’s next touchdown looked a lot like others scored by Nebraska’s option quarterbacks of yesteryear. With Legate trailing to his left, Martinez cut around the left corner and turned around Chattanooga’s Kadeem Wise on his way to a 43-yard run that put Nebraska up 20-0.

Martinez extended the lead to 40-7 in the third quarter when he faked a handoff and ran 47 yards untouched.

The Huskers showed they have a capable replacement for Alex Henery, the most accurate kicker in NCAA history.

Brett Maher, who passed on scholarship offers from Colorado State and Ohio to walk on at Nebraska, kicked a 50-yard field goal into a gusty north wind and added 48-, 34- and 21-yarders.

The Mocs scored their only points on the first series of the second half, with Marlon Anthony catching a 13-yard TD pass from B.J. Coleman after cornerback Andrew Green fell.

Chattanooga picked up some decent gains at times but couldn’t get consistently move against a defense that has allowed under 11 points a game at home since 2009.

“I thought our guys played extremely hard and they didn’t back down the whole game,” Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. “The best part of it was for 60 minutes we went toe-to-toe. Man, our guys fought.”

Coleman was 19 of 33 for 174 yards, with one interception.

The Huskers sacked Coleman three times. Their biggest defensive play came when the Mocs were backed up against their goal line and Cameron Meredith intercepted a pass that Jared Crick tipped at the line. The play set up Burkhead’s touchdown.

Nebraska was the next in a line of major powers to play Chattanooga. The Mocs lost to the last two national champions, 62-24 at Auburn last year and 45-0 at Alabama in 2009, and 57-2 in 2008 against BCS runner-up Oklahoma.

The Mocs can look forward to playing South Florida, Alabama and Tennessee the next three years.

— Associated Press —

Missouri State loses season opener at No. 15 Arkansas

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Missouri State was out-gained 466-163 in a 51-7 season-opening loss at No. 15 Arkansas here Saturday night.

The Bears collected 145 of their yards in the second half and  produced their only points on a 33-yard touchdown pass from true freshman starter Kierra Harris to All-America wide receiver Jermaine Saffold. The one-play drive started at the UofA 33 after a forced fumble was recovered by Nick Canavan there to set up the Bears’ only points.

Both teams committed just one turnover, and the Bears were penalized just four times on the night while the Bears collected three sacks to Arkansas’ two.

Chris Douglas led MSU with 18 carries for 72 yards, while Harris finished 8-for-14 with an interception and 70 yards. Special teams performers Julian Burton, Jordan Chiles and Kaleb Mueller also had big nights, with Burton collecting 110 return yards, and Chiles averaging 45.9 yards on 8 punts.

Mike Crutcher led the MSU defense with 10 total tackles, while Ryan Callender added 8.

Arkansas covered 80 yards on 10 plays on the game’s opening drive before Tyler Wilson found Jarius Wright from 33 yards out for the first score.  Joe Adams’ punt return and a missed extra point followed two-and-a-half minutes later to make it 13-0.  Bobby Petrino’s squad then capped a 70-yard drive before the end of the first quarter as Kody Walker punched it into the end zone from one yard out on the 12th play of the 70-yard series.

The Razorbacks scored twice more in the second quarter as Brandon Mitchell connected on a three-yard pass to Chris Gragg at the 5:01 mark before a 32-yard field goal by Zach Hocker with 25 ticks left in the second.

The largest crowd ever for a Missouri State game, 70,607, saw the home club tack on 14 more points in the third quarter on a 29-yard TD pass from Wilson to Wright. The play was initially called incomplete, but was challenged by the Razorbacks despite a 30-0 advantage, and the play was ultimately overturned and resulted in a touchdown.

Later in the quarter Adams tacked on a 78-yard punt return that took an eternity to evolve as the Bears gave chase to make the score 44-0 with 4:15 left in the third.

Missouri State finally got on the board with 45 seconds left in the period. After a strip by Andrew Biesel and a fumble recovery by Canavan gave the Bears the ball at the Arkansas 33.  On the first play of the sequence, Harris threw a strike to Saffold in the right corner end zone for the touchdown.  The completion was Harris’ first of his career and Saffold’s ninth.

Arkansas tacked on a one-yard TD run by Walker early in the fourth. Ronnie Wingo led Arkansas with 43 ground yards on 11 carries, while Wilson was 18-for-24 for 260 and a pair of scores. Reserve Mitchell was 10-for-11 for 104 yards, and Wright led all receivers with 6 catches for 108 yards.

The Bears continue a four-game home stand to start the season next Saturday at Eastern Kentucky (0-1), with a 5 p.m. (Central) start from Richmond, Ky.

— MSU Sports Information —

Northwest soccer falls in overtime to Texas A&M-Commerce

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Northwest Missouri State University soccer team lost a heartbreaker on Saturday morning despite Tammie Eiberger’s hat trick, falling, 4-3, in overtime against Texas A&M-Commerce at Bearcat Pitch.

In the season opener for both schools Jade Bell kicked in the game winner just two minutes into overtime as Northwest falls to 0-1 and the Lions improve to 1-0. The Bearcats will try to rebound as they quickly return to action on Sunday at 3 p.m. against Wayne State.

Eiberger stole the show as she opened the scoring just four minutes into play giving the Bearcats a, 1-0, lead. However, that would be the only time Northwest would hold the lead as TAMC would score to close out the first half and again one minute into the second period to take a 3-1 lead.

The Lions would get a pair of goals from Bell, one in the 51st minute and the game winner in overtime.

Eiberger would score her second goal of the day on a penalty kick in the 76th minute. She would later tie the game on an unassisted goal with less than 10 minutes remaining to send the game into the extra period. Eiberger enters her first season with the Bearcats after transferring from Saginaw Valley State.

Both teams were consistent equaling their shot on goal totals in each half, Northwest with four and TAMC with nine. The only shot by either team in the overtime period was the game winner from Bell.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

High School Football Scores – Friday, Sept. 2

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WEEK 2

CITY
@ Central 9 (1-1, 1-1 SUB)
Lee’s Summit West 45 (2-0, 1-0 SUB)

Benton 55 (2-0, 1-0 MEC)
@ Bishop LeBlond 0 (0-2, 0-2 MEC)

Lafayette 45 (2-0, 0-0 MEC)
@ Odessa 6 (0-2)

St. Joseph Christian 62 (2-0)
@ South Nodaway 8 (0-2, 0-1 PVC)

AREA
@ Savannah 49 (2-0, 1-0 MEC)
Excelsior Springs 24 (0-2)

Maryville 36 (2-0, 1-0 MEC)
@ Smithville 30 (1-1, 1-1 MEC)

Cameron 7 (0-2, 0-1 MEC)
@ Richmond 47 (2-0)

@ Chillicothe (1-0, 0-0 MEC)
Kirksville (0-1)

West Platte 36 (2-0, 1-0 KCI)
@ Lawson 30 (0-2, 0-1 KCI)

East Buchanan 40 (2-0, 0-0 KCI)
@ King City 27 (0-2, 0-1 GRC)

Mid-Buchanan 8 (1-1, 0-0 KCI)
@ Gallatin 13 (1-1, 0-0 GRC)

North Platte 28 (2-0, 0-0 KCI)
@ South Harrison 9 (1-1, 0-0 GRC)

Lathrop 10 (0-2, 0-1 KCI)
@ Plattsburg 13 (1-1, 1-0 KCI)

Polo 19 (1-1, 0-1 GRC)
@ Hamilton 47 (2-0, 2-0 GRC)

Maysville 0 (0-2, 0-1 GRC)
@ Princeton 46 (2-0, 2-0 GRC)

@ Albany 18 (0-2, 0-1 GRC)
Crest Ridge 47

@ Rock Port 0 (0-2)
Concordia 73

Trenton 41 (1-1)
@ Carrolton 0

8-MAN
Mound City 54 (2-0, 1-0 275)
@ West Nodaway 24 (0-2, 0-1 275)

Worth County 48 (2-0, 2-0 275)
@ Nodaway-Holt 0 (0-2, 0-1 275)

Stanberry 52 (2-0, 2-0 275)
@ Tarkio 12 (0-2, 0-2 275)

South Holt 14 (1-1, 1-0 275)
@ North Andrew 64 (1-1, 0-0 PVC)

North Nodaway 14 (1-1, 1-0 275)
@ DeKalb 62 (2-0, 0-0 PVC)

@ Stewartsville 0 (1-1, 0-0 PVC)
Hardin-Central 46 (2-0)

Missouri Western volleyball finishes 1-1 on opening day

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The Griffon volleyball squad opened up the 2011 season going 1-1 on the opening day of the Lady Buff Classic hosted by West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. Western won their opening match 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18) over Eastern New Mexico and fell in the night cap 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21) against Angelo State.  Senior middle hitter Alex Behnke led the way 24 total kills on the day which included tying her career high with 14 in the opening match.

Eastern New Mexico Match

The first three matches were tightly contested battles as the Griffons were able to take two out of the first three. Western led set one 15-11 but a 14-8 run by Eastern New Mexico gave the Zias the 1-0 lead in the match. In set two the two teams went back and forth once again but a 4-1 run by Western to close out the set tied the match up one. Western hit .182 in the set with 15 kills.

Western jumped out to an early 8-1 lead in set three, but the Zias would come back cutting the Griffon lead to 14-12. Western regrouped as a redshirt freshman Meredith McCormick kill and a Zias attack error gave the Griffons the 25-22 win and 2-1 lead in the match.

In the fourth set, a pair of McCormick kills snapped a 13-all tie and allowed Western to build a 20-15 lead. Western won five of the next eight points earning the 25-18 victory to end the match.

Western hit .155 as a team as McCormick and Behnke hit .450 and .237 respectively. McCormick and senior Tahler Johnston chipped in 11 kills apiece. Sophomore setter Stephanie Hattey had 40 set assists and eight kills. Freshman Sarah Faubel had a nice opening match tallying 26 digs while Johnston chipped in 16.

Eastern New Mexico was led by Amber Durand with 21 kills and 16 digs while Tarrah Sweet had 44 set assists. The Zias fall to 0-1 on the season.

Angelo State Match

Western struggled in the second match of the day falling in three straight sets to Angelo State. Western hit just .095 with 33 kills in the match. Behnke led the charge once again with 10 kills while hitting .348.

The Rambelles dominated hitting .352 with 46 kills in the match. Kaelen Valdez led the charge with 11 kills while Alex Woolsey had 39 set assists. Angelo State hit .545 in set one with 14 kills while tallying 19 kills in the third and final set. Angelo State improves to 2-0 on the season.

Faubel led the Griffons defensively with 15 digs while Hattey had 33 set assists.

Western returns to action tomorrow with matches against Texas Permian Basin and host school West Texas A&M. Match times are scheduled for 9:00 am and 2:00 pm respectively.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcat volleyball opens with two wins at Omaha

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The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team got off to a hot start on Friday sweeping a pair of games to kick-off the UNO Showcase and the 2011 season. The Bearcats opened the day with a, 3-1, win over Minnesota State-Moorhead and a, 3-1, victory in the nightcap over Northern State at Sapp Fieldhouse.

The Bearcats, who are coming off their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, opened the season with a pair of wins to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Northwest continues action on Saturday at the UNO Showcase against a pair of NSIC foes, Winona State and Augustana.

Northwest jumped out to early, 2-0 leads in both matches on Friday. Freshman Brooke Bartosh paced the Bearcat defense in the opening set against the Dragons as she finished the match with seven blocks.

Offensively the Bearcats were even more stout hitting a solid .360 while holding MSU-Moorhead to a -.038 hitting percentage. After taking the first set convincingly, 25-15, the Bearcats would hold off the Dragons for a 25-22 advantage and a 2-0 lead.

The Bearcat defense would stand strong in the fourth set after falling, 25-20, in the third set. Holding the Dragons to a .062 hitting percentage in the fourth set sending the Bearcats to a, 3-1, victory.

Abby Graves and Bartosh each finished with 11 kills respectively, while Alex Hannah also finished with double digit kills adding 10.

The nightcap saw nearly an identical match, as the Bearcats raced out to a, 2-0, lead before dropping the third set. The Northwest defense would stand strong again in the fourth set holding Northern State to a, -.042 hitting percentage.

Bartosh and Hannah would lead the Bearcats in kills with 14 each while Bartosh added six kills on the defensive side of the net.

Graves and Bartosh would record the first double-doubles of the season for Northwest, as Graves finished with 10 kills with 14 digs. Bartosh would add 14 kills and 10 digs leading the Bearcats with a .355 hitting percentage.

Junior Tori Beckman was outstanding defensively as well for the Bearcats. Beckman added 20 digs against Northern State while opening the tournament with 16 digs against MSU-Moorhead.

Northwest continues action on Saturday at 10 a.m. against Augustana before closing out tournament action with Winona State at 2 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

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