MARYVILLE, Mo. - The No. 5-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball squad celebrated its Senior Day with a 3-0 sweep of the visiting Newman University Jets in Bearcat Arena.

The Bearcats won by set scores of 25-16, 25-13 and 25-19. Northwest moved its season mark to 22-4 overall and 15-3 in MIAA. Newman fell to 9-16 overall and 5-14 in the league. Northwest's 15 MIAA wins are the most in program history.

Northwest honored five seniors playing their final home regular season matches of their career. Maddy Ahrens, Kelsey Havel, Hannah Koechl, Sophie McMullen and Rachel Sturdevant were recognized prior to the match.

Northwest built an 8-1 lead to begin the match. Newman rallied to pull within 9-7. Northwest pushed the lead back to six at 18-12 and was not challenged the rest of the set. Northwest hit .459 with 18 kills and one error in the opening set. Newman was limited to .167 hitting with 12 kills and five errors. Northwest's offensive attack was balanced in the opening set as Avery Kemp, Payton Kirchhoefer and Kelsey Havel each tallied four kills.

The early part of the second set featured three ties and a lead change. The set was level at 7-7 before the Bearcats ripped off three straight points. The Bearcats used a 7-0 spurt to open up an 18-9 lead. Northwest would close the set on a 14-4 run. Northwest hit .441 with 18 kills and three errors. The Jets hit .115 with six kills and three errors. Kirchhoefer notched six second-set kills to lead the Bearcat charge. 

The Bearcats began the third set with a 10-5 scoring run. The Jets trimmed two points off the lead, but saw the Bearcats run off a 7-2 run to take a 17-9 advantage. Northwest hit .220 with 16 kills and five errors, but took advantage of a 73% side out effort in the third. Newman hit .159 with 13 kills and six errors. Kemp posted a team-best four kills in the third.

Northwest will close out the regular season with a pair of road trips to Emporia State (Friday) and Washburn (Saturday).

NOTES: Northwest tallied 52 kills ... Newman had 31 kills ... Northwest hit .355, while Newman hit .152 ... Payton Kirchhoefer led the way with 13 kills (.542) ... Avery Kemp notched 11 kills (.526) ... Kelsey Havel reached double-figure kills with 11 ... Hannah Koechl recorded a match-high 19 digs ... Northwest moved to 11-0 all-time vs. Newman.