DENVER, Colo. – The No. 10-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat volleyball team used a strong middle attack to take down No. 3-ranked Western Washington University in four sets in the Silver Pool semifinal of the 2022 Colorado Premier Challenge.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 22-25, 25-16, 25-16 and 25-21.
 
Abby Brunssen tied a career-high with 13 kills as she hit .545. Brunssen's .545 hitting percentage ranks as the 10th-best mark in a four-set match in Bearcat history. Brunssen also notched a team-high five blocks against the Vikings. Brunssen's 13 kills are a season-high and gives her eight career double-figure kill matches.
 
Avery Kemp belted out 15 kills and hit .429. It is Kemp's third double-figure kill total this season and 10 in her Bearcat career.
 
Northwest out-hit Western Washington (.275 to .155). Northwest had 54 kills, while WWU had 51 kills. Northwest enjoyed an 18-13 edge in blocks.
 
Western Washington drew first blood in the opening set with a 25-22 triumph. Northwest held a 12-8 lead early on, but WWU evened the set at 12-12. The set was tied at 16-16, when WWU went on a 4-0 run. Northwest closed back to within 20-19, but could get no closer as WWU took the three-point win. Northwest hit .250 with 12 kills and four errors in the opening set. WWU hit .314 with 17 kills and six attack errors.
 
Northwest evened the match with a convincing 25-16 win in the second. Northwest began the set on an 8-1 run and moved the margin out to 10-2. WWU got within six at 13-7, but Northwest responded with a 6-2 spurt to take a commanding 19-9 advantage. Northwest secured the set win at 25-16. Northwest hit .226 with 12 kills to go against five attack errors. WWU hit minus-.030 with eight errors against six kills in the second stanza.
 
The Bearcats secured a pivotal win in the third set to take a 2-1 advantage in the match. Northwest used another strong start to take control. The Bearcats won five of the first six points. The Bearcats pushed the lead to 17-9 before a Viking timeout. Northwest kept the pressure on WWU and prevailed, 25-16. Northwest enjoyed a 3-0 block advantage in the third set. Northwest hit .289 with 14 kills against three errors, while WWU hit .071 with 12 kills and nine attack errors.
 
The Bearcats faced a couple of early deficits at 6-3 and 14-10 before rallying back to take a 17-16 lead in the fourth. Following a WWU timeout, Northwest surged to a 20-17 lead. Northwest took another three-point lead at 22-19 as the Vikings took their final timeout of the set. Hallie Sidney put away the final kill to close out a 25-21 win.
 
Northwest will take on Regis University in the Silver Pool Championship tonight at 6 p.m. (CT). Regis advanced to the Silver Pool final with a 3-0 win over West Florida.