HAYS, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team secured a 3-0 victory over Arkansas Tech to begin its 2025 season at the FHSU Tiger Invitational.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-22.
 
Kate Frakes put up her third double-digit kill match of her career with a team-best 13 kills against Arkansas Tech. Frakes hit .550 with 13 kills on 20 attacks with two attack errors. Frakes was one off a career high of 14 kills.
 
Kasidy Mohwinkle gained her 15th career double-figure kill match with 11 kills.
 
Ella Caffery averaged 11.0 assists per set as she was credited with a team-best 33 assists.
 
Ellery Luhring and Karsen VanScoy led the defensive effort with 11 digs apiece. It was VanScoy's 11th career double-figure dig match, while Ellery gained her fifth career match of 10 or more digs.
 
Gabrielle Gartner notched a team-high four block assists.
 
Northwest jumped out to a 5-1 lead only six points in the first set. Northwest increased the lead to 9-2. Arkansas Tech pulled to within five at 12-7, but the Bearcats pushed the margin back to eight at 17-9. Northwest recorded a 25-16 opening-set triumph by hitting .216 with 13 kills, while Arkansas Tech hit minus-.097 with eight kills and 11 attack errors.
 
Northwest gained an early advantage in the second set with a 9-5 lead. Northwest had a 13-8 lead only to see Arkansas Tech slice the lead to two at 13-11. Arkansas Tech continued its 8-2 run and took a 16-15 lead. Trailing 16-15, Northwest rattled off three straight points to gain an 18-16 advantage. The Bearcats utilized a 6-1 spurt to take a 21-17 and force an Arkansas Tech timeout. Northwest kept Arkansas Tech at arm's length and finished off the 25-20 victory in the second set. Northwest hit .348 with 18 kills in the second set, while Arkansas Tech improved to hit .310 with 16 kills. The teams combined to commit only five attack errors in the set.
 
The Bearcats gained the momentum in the third set with a 6-1 start to again force Arkansas Tech into a timeout. Northwest never trailed in the third set and secured a 25-22 win for the three-game sweep.
 
Northwest will be back in action later this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. against Rockhurst.