GARY, Ind. — Indiana University Northwest closed out its regular season in dominant fashion Thursday night, sweeping Calumet College of St. Joseph 3-0 (25-20, 25-9, 25-11) inside Savannah Center to secure a berth in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Tournament as the No. 8 seed.
The RedHawks (13-20, 9-9 CCAC) controlled the match from start to finish, hitting .198 as a team while holding the Crimson Wave (2-24, 1-17) to a -.157 hitting percentage. Setter Gabi Lilovich directed the offense efficiently, dishing out 11 assists to go with 10 digs and a service ace. Middle blocker Trinitie Lintner anchored the front line with four blocks and four kills, while Raniyah Preston led the attack with six kills and seven points.
In the opening set, Calumet jumped ahead 8-4 behind a serving run from Andrea Matias, who tallied three aces to force a RedHawks timeout. IU Northwest regrouped quickly as Lilovich found her rhythm, connecting with Preston and Lindsey Krueger for consecutive kills to spark a 6-0 run. Lintner added a key block and kill down the stretch to help close the frame 25-20.
The RedHawks carried that momentum into the second set, storming to an 8-0 lead behind aggressive serving and strong net defense. Krueger and Lintner combined for three blocks in the opening stretch, and Murphy added a powerful kill to extend the lead. Calumet never recovered, as IU Northwest limited the Crimson Wave to just four kills in the set.
IU Northwest kept its foot on the gas in the third, opening on a 6-0 run capped by a Preston kill. Everett served an ace to make it 10-4, and Lilovich added a back-row kill to extend the margin. Krueger's late swing secured match point at 25-11, completing the sweep and sending the RedHawks to the postseason with confidence.
Krueger finished with five kills and 10 digs, while Kaelan Murphy added five kills and eight digs. Everett contributed eight digs and a service ace.
The RedHawks will travel to La Crosse, Wis., for the CCAC Quarterfinals, facing top-seeded and nationally ranked No. 1 Viterbo University on Tuesday, Nov. 11. First serve time will be announced.
