Box Score Indiana University Northwest put up a determined effort on Senior Day but ultimately fell short in a close 3-1 match against Judson University (25-23, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23) at the Savannah Center on Thursday night. With this result, the RedHawks concluded their regular season with a record of 14-17 overall and 6-8 in the CCAC Conference.
Judson took an early lead by winning a competitive first set, edging out the RedHawks 25-23 despite IU Northwest's steady offensive efforts. The second set followed a similar script, as Judson's efficient attack helped them secure a 25-19 win and a 2-0 match lead. Refusing to go down quietly, IU Northwest rallied in the third set, posting a .220 hitting percentage and gaining momentum with a 25-17 victory. The fourth set was another nail-biter, with Judson narrowly coming out on top at 25-23 to close the match.
Briah Strezo had a historic night for IU Northwest, notching 27 digs to break the program's single season record for digs with a new mark of 456. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 450, set in 2022 by her current teammate
Chloe Roberts. Strezo's defensive performance was supported by
Eva Everett's 20 digs and
Erica Packwood's 17, helping the RedHawks keep several rallies alive.
On the offensive front, Packwood led all RedHawks with 19 kills, followed by
Jaelyn Donald with eight and
Karly Jevert with six. Packwood also added 13 assists, while
Josephine Mulligan guided the offense with a team-high 26 assists and contributed three service aces. Indiana Northwest's blocking efforts were led by
Baileigh Uporsky, who recorded two blocks, while Jevert added one to help slow Judson's potent attack.
Judson's offense, led by Alyssa Gerzel's 18 kills, proved formidable, particularly in the first and fourth sets. Gerzel also tallied a game-high 28 digs, while Maisie Green's six blocks and Alina Romero's 20 assists highlighted the Eagles' balanced play.
Despite the narrow loss, IU Northwest showed resilience throughout the match, especially in their commanding third-set win. They now turn their focus to the postseason, where they will face the number two-seed, Saint Xavier, in the first round of the CCAC Tournament on Tuesday, November 12, with the time still TBA.
Story by PJ Katona
