TAMPA, Florida – The No. 17-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat volleyball team remained perfect on the season with a 3-0 triumph over Illinois-Springfield Saturday morning at the 2021 Courtyard by Marriott Classic in the Martinez Center.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 25-16, 26-24 and 25-21.
 
The first set was all even at 9-9 before the Bearcats pulled away. Initially, Northwest used a 5-0 run to build a 14-9 lead. Northwest continued the spurt with a 12-3 run that opened up a 21-12 advantage. The Bearcats secured a 25-16 win with a .444 hitting percentage. Northwest registered 14 kills against two attack errors in the set. Setter Maddy Ahrens guided the effort with three service aces. Payton Kirchhoefer rocked UIS with six kills in the set.
 
Northwest used a comeback in the second set to take a 2-0 lead. UIS jumped out to a 4-0 lead, only to see Northwest knot it up at 5-5. UIS used a 6-1 run to take a 16-11 advantage. UIS held a 19-14 late, but the Bearcats refused to yield. Northwest tallied a 6-1 run to even the set at 20-20. Northwest closed out the win on its third set point, 26-24.
 
The Bearcats dominated the third set from the start. Northwest scored five of the first six points and eight of the first 10. UIS came back to trail 9-5, but Northwest used an 8-1 run to take a commanding 17-6. However, UIS did not go away quietly and used a 13-4 run of its own to pull within 21-19. The Prairie Stars got to within 22-20 before the Bearcats scored three of the final four points to win it, 25-21.
 
Kirchhoefer paced the Bearcat offense with match-high 13 kills. Kirchhoefer hit .407 for the match. Abby Brunnsen provided a punch with eight kills and three blocks.
 
Ahrens finished with 27 assists and three aces. Alyssa Rezac contributed with 13 assists.
 
Hannah Koechl led the defensive charge with 16 digs.
 
Northwest enjoyed a 46-31 kill advantage. Northwest hit .315 for the match.
 
Northwest will wrap up the event later today with a 2 p.m. matchup against No. 5-ranked Tampa.