SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The William Carey Volleyball Team dropped their first match of pool play in the 2024 NAIA National Championship, falling to #1 Northwestern 3-1 Wednesday morning at the Tyson Events Center.
 
"We knew that we had a big challenge in front of us, but we were confident and came to compete," said Head Coach Ronda Shirley. "I know we did not put a "W" on the board, but we fought and gave the crowd an exciting match to watch. That is not always something that happens when the #1 & #24 teams match up. I am proud of the growth I have seen in this team and our season is not over yet."
 
The Red Raiders opened the match, taking an early 5-2 lead but kills by Suelen Lima and Marcella Hermont got Carey back within one point. Both teams traded points with Northwestern eventually building an 11-6 lead behind a 4-0 run.
 
Again though, WCU answered with kills by Barbara Guedes and Sofia Bettini, a block from Guedes and Lima with another point coming from an attack error to close the deficit to just one point again at 11-10.
 
The battle ensued and with NWC leading 14-12, the Lady Crusaders tied the set at fourteen on a kill by Lima and a block from Lima and Elaina Anderson. From there both teams traded points until the set was tied at twenty-three with a kill by Lima putting Carey within one point of victory. Anderson followed with a kill of her own to seal the first set victory.
 
Nothing changed at the start of the second set, as both teams continued to go back and forth. With the Red Raiders leading 9-7, Carey retook the lead 11-9 behind an attack error, kills by Lima, and an ace from Katarina Vulic. However, Northwestern seized control of the match behind a 10-1 run before going on to take the set 25-16.
 
After a back and forth start to the third set NWC slowly built a 9-5 advantage. Carey managed to get back within two points at 9-7 but could get no closer as Northwestern responded with an 8-2 run to take a commanding 17-9 lead on their way to the 25-16 victory.
 
The Red Raiders opened the fourth, taking the early lead at 9-4 but Carey took advantage of a couple of attack errors and kills by Lima and Bettini to get back within one point. NWC tried to pull away taking a 14-11 lead. After trading points the Lady Crusaders again rallied with four straight points from Anderson, Vulic, and Hermont with the fourth courtesy of an error by the Red Raiders offense to take a 17-15 lead. Again though, Northwestern answered with an 8-1 run to pull away for good.
 
Suelen Lima led the offense with 16 kills and 19 digs while Sofia Bettini had 12 kills. Katarina Vulic finished the match with 43 assists and ten digs with Barbara Guedes adding 18 digs.
 
Carey is back in action tomorrow, as they take on Montana Western in pool play action. Play is set to begin at 10:00 am at the Tyson Events Center.