GOSHEN, Ind. – Indiana University Northwest volleyball opened its 2025 season with resilience and late-set composure, defeating Goshen College 3-1 (28-26, 25-20, 23-25, 28-26) on Tuesday night inside Ruth Gunden Gymnasium.

Freshman setter Raniyah Preston powered the RedHawks with 14 kills on .481 hitting, adding 15 assists, two blocks and a match-high 16.5 points. Junior Gabi Lilovich handed out 19 assists to go with nine kills, while freshman Lindsey Krueger (six kills, 10 digs, three aces) provided a spark in key stretches. Freshman libero Abby Allen anchored the back row with 19 digs.

The opener swung back and forth before IU Northwest rallied late. Blocks from Baileigh Uporsky and Preston helped the RedHawks erase a deficit, and with the score tied at 26, Goshen committed a service error before another Preston block at the net secured the 28-26 victory.

In the second set, Krueger caught fire at the service line, landing three aces during an 8-0 run that pushed IUNW ahead 13-6. Trinitee Litner and Lilovich each added key kills down the stretch as the RedHawks held off a Goshen push to close out a 25-20 win and take a 2-0 match lead.

Goshen responded in the third, capitalizing on attack errors and timely swings from Addison Ross and Brenna Spangler. IU Northwest pulled even at 21-all after a Preston kill, but the Maple Leafs answered with back-to-back points to edge out a 25-23 win and force a fourth set.

The final frame mirrored the opener. IU Northwest built a 21-18 advantage behind consecutive kills from Preston and a block from Krueger, but Goshen rallied to tie it 24-24. With the match on the line, Allen delivered a clutch service ace for a 27-26 lead, and a Maple Leaf attack error sealed the 28-26 victory and the season-opening win.

IU Northwest (1-0) returns to action Friday, Aug. 22, opening play at the Clarke Pride Tournament in Dubuque, Iowa, against Clarke University in the first of two days of competition.