BOX SCORE (PDF)

TOPEKA, Kansas - The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team knocked off its second ranked opponent of the season with a five-set triumph over No. 18-ranked Drury University on Saturday afternoon at the Washburn Invitational.

Northwest knocked off Drury by set scores of 24-26, 25-22, 25-21, 17-25, 15-10. The Bearcats defeated No. 23 Central Washington on Friday and No. 18 Drury on Saturday.

The Bearcats, who struggled in five-set matches a year ago by going 1-5, used their first five-set opportunity in 2019 to flip the script. Northwest went out and tallied nine kills and no attack errors to hit .471 in the fifth and deciding set. It also marks the second straight season that Northwest has won its first four matches. In 2018, Northwest began the season with five consecutive victories.

Junior Hallie Sidney recorded her second double-double of the season and notched a pair of season-highs in kills (22) and digs (15). Sidney had seven kills in the first, five kills in the second and five more kills in the fifth.

Junior Morgan Lewis produced a career-high 16 kills (.379). Lewis secured six kills on eight swings in the first set. Lewis and true freshman Jaden Ferguson teamed up for a block in the fifth set.

Ferguson secured a career-high 18 digs in the victory.

Sophomore Bethany Elkins tallied her third double-figure kill total on the year, while being credited with a career-high 13 kills (.400).

Junior Maddy Ahrens added 55 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.

Sophomore transfer Hannah Koechl enjoyed team-high honors with four service aces. 

Northwest will be back in action next weekend in Springfield, Missouri, taking part in the Drury Invitational. Northwest will match up against Northern State (Fri., 1 p.m.), Colorado Mesa (Fri., 5 p.m.), Drury (Sat., 1 p.m.) and Truman State (Sat., 5 p.m.)

NOTE: Hallie Sidney, Bethany Elkins and Morgan Lewis were named to the Washburn Invitational All-Tournament Team.