No. 4 Dordt Too Much for the Eagles 11/29/2017 7:13:55 PM SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Northwest University Eagles played their second NAIA top 25 team in No. 4 ranked Dordt College late today, and fell in straight sets for the second straight match, 25-11, 25-17, 25-19, at the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Championships in the Tyson Events Center. The Defenders, from Sioux Center, Iowa and last year’s national runner-up, took charge right from the start of set one with a solid attack led by Haley Moss’ 5 kills. Jamie Gesink led both teams with 14 assists in the first set. Dordt broke out to a 21-8 lead before the Eagles would hit double digits in the score with Amanda Waterman’s kill making it a 22-10 score. Mattie Jo Johnson would make it a 22-11 score with her kill, but Dordt would end the set with a kill by Moss and two NU errors. Dordt maintained their momentum in the second set as they would take a 13-8 lead. Two straight kills by NU, one by Sarah Warner and one by Mattie Jo Johnson would make it a 13-10 set as DC would call a time out. The Defenders would then outscore NU 7-4 to stretch their lead to 20-14. The Eagles would not be able to get any closer as a kill by Julia Lindbergh would put Dordt up 2-0 in the match. With DC leading 11-5 in set three, NU’s Audrey Saelens would come up with three straight kills to help the Eagles make it a 12-9 set. With Dordt in the lead, 15-11, two Defender miscues and a kill by Amanda Waterman would cut DC’s lead to 15-13, but the NAIA’s No. 4 team would outscore the Eagles 5-1 to increase their lead to 20-14. NU would be unable to make up any ground as the Defenders would go on to win and improve to 2-0 in pool play with a 25-19 set victory. Mattie Jo Johnson led Northwest U (23-10) with 8 kills and a .211 hitting average. Amanda Waterman had a team high 10 digs and Morgan Pilon led the Eagles with 15 assists. NU was held to just .050 hitting for the match and totaled 4 blocks. Dordt College (31-6) hit .353 as a team and was led by Ema Altena’s 12 kills and 6 digs. Ally Krommendyk added 10 kills (.368) while Jamie Gesink posted a match high 40 assists. Summer Jansen came up with a match high 16 defensive digs for the Defenders who have clinched a spot in the final 16 teams. Next Up: The Eagle complete pool play tomorrow with a 6 p.m. CT match with Ottawa University (Kans.)