WOLVES KNOCK OFF MUSTANGS

Oct. 12, 2001

Point Northern! Dahl (7) and Heny celebrate a point late in the fourth game Friday night.

Northern knocked Southwest State off its unbeaten pedestal and kept an undefeated streak of its own alive with a thrilling 3-1 win (30-27, 30-27, 23-30, 35-33) at the Barnett Center Friday night.

The Mustangs (13-11, 8-1 NSIC) came into the match at the top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Standings with a perfect 8-0 mark and seventh-place ranking in the North Central Region. But the Wolves (13-7, 7-2 NSIC) came out firing and finished strong to remain unbeaten at home with a 7-0 mark this season.

Northern won the first two games by rallying late in each behind the strength of NSU's raucous crowd and their own sheer will. After the Mustangs won game three, the two NSIC heavyweights duked it out in the fourth game. Northern had to stave off three game points that would have forced a fifth and deciding game to finally come out on top 35-33.

Crazies --NSU volleyball fans enjoying their regionally-ranked Wolves against Southwest.

Junior outside hitter Kim Heny (Powell, Wyo.) led the Wolves with 17 kills, 20 digs and three service aces. Junior middle blocker Christi Lucas (White, S.D.) added 11 kills on a .409 hitting clip. Sophomore setter Tara Sauter (Belle Plaine, Minn.) dished out 44 assists on the night to go with 16 digs. Senior middle blocker Shanna Dahl (St. Cloud, Minn.) set the tone early for the team and was a constant all night at the net, recording a match-high eight blocks to go with nine kills. Erica Yingling led SSU with 16 kills.

The Wolves can't savor the big win for long, however. Pre-season favorite Wayne State, which is 8-1 in the conference after a win at Minnesota-Morris Friday, will face the Wolves Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Barnett Center. The Wildcats are also ranked eighth in the North Central Region. NSU is ranked 10th.