V-Hawks drop hard-fought match against #3 Northwestern

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The V-Hawks took to the court on Thursday night to face off against #3 Northwestern in a non-conference battle. The V-Hawks fell to the Red Raiders in five sets after a hard-fought battle by both teams. The V-Hawks drop to 17-6 overall while the Raiders improve to 20-3 overall. 

Izzy Jahr was a force to be reckoned with on Thursday night. Her 28 kill performance was the sixth best by a V-Hawk in a five-set match. Izzy hit at a 0.327 percentage as well. Her performance is a new career high for the sophomore. Additionally, Hailee Halverson added 15 kills on a 0.542 percentage. Halverson's 15 kill performance is a new career high. Jaden Polovina added 27 assists, a career high for the Junior, while Maddie Connor added 32 assists, a season high for the senior. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The V-Hawks got early momentum on kills from Izzy Jahr and Jada Mitchell. The V-Hawks extended their lead to 12-3 early in the match with kills from Jalen Hinzman, Izzy Jahr, and MaKena Ihle, as well as a solo block from Jalen Hinzman and an ace from Jaden Polovina. The V-Hawks held their lead and extended it at 20-10 off another Izzy Jahr kill. The V-Hawks rode their momentum until the end, finishing on a kill from Hailee Halverson. 
• The two teams kept the second set close. The Raiders went on a five point run in the middle of the set, forcing a timeout by the V-Hawks. The V-Hawks were down 13-10 at the timeout. The Raiders extended their lead at 21-15. The V-Hawks responded with a three point run and kills from Izzy Jahr and Jada Mitchell to get back within three. Eventually, the V-Hawks fell to the Raiders 25-19 in the second. 
• The V-Hawks fell behind early in the third set, going down 9-4 early on. Kills by Sadie Treptow, Jalen Hinzman, and Hailee Halverson attempted to swing the set, but the V-Hawks fell to a five point deficit in the middle of the set. A kill by Izzy Jahr and an ace from Resse Germann brought the set back within three, but the Raiders continued to escape. Late in the set, back-to-back kills from Izzy Jahr brought the V-Hawks to a two point deficit. The V-Hawks eventually fell 25-22 in the third. 
• The V-Hawks went down early in the fourth, going down 5-3 early on. Back-to-back kills from Izzy Jahr evened the score up, but the Raiders responded with a seven point run. The V-Hawks were down 12-5 until they went on a 10-0 run with several kills from Hailee Halverson, an ace from Mikaela Marquardt, and a pair of kills from MaKena Ihle. The V-Hawks continued to run with the momentum, and an ace from Resse Germann brought the V-Hawks to the end of a 20-6 run to end the fourth set 25-18. 
• The Raiders scored the first point of the decisive fifth set, but the V-Hawks remained close early on. The Raiders pulled away, picking up a 6-2 lead early, but kills from Izzy Jahr and Jalen Hinzman brought the deficit back down to two. The Raiders were too much for the V-Hawks and continued to extend their lead through the fifth set. The V-Hawks fell in set five 15-10. 

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Kills: Izzy Jahr (28, career-high)
• Efficiency: Hailee Halverson (0.542)
• Assists: Maddie Connor (32, season-high)
• Digs: Resse Germann (22)
• Blocks: Jada Mitchell (4)
• Aces: Resse Germann and Jaden Polovina (2)

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks face off against Judson on Tuesday night. First serve is scheduled for 6pm in the Viterbo Athletic Complex.