MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran volleyball team will travel to No. 5 Northwestern Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest to kickoff the UMAC Tournament. The Vikings finished the regular season 8-17 overall and 6-8 in the conference while the Eagles were 28-2 overall and 14-0 in the UMAC. Wednesday's match marks the first time that Bethany has been a top four seed in the UMAC Tournament and also the first time the team has played in a semifinal game.

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Bethany Lutheran 
Alexis Morsching leads the Vikings in the kills for the third straight season, posting 212 on the year to go along with an impressive 272 digs. Fellow senior Rilee Hohbein has also had a good year, putting up 143 kills on an attack percentage of .172, while also tallying 62 blocks. The setting duties were spread out this year, with Esther Peeters totaling a team-best 310 asssists including at least 13 in 9-of-11 matches in October. In the back row, Maddi Wendland led the Vikings with 296 digs in the regular season while also contributing a team-best 39 service aces.

Northwestern
The Eagles are coming off arguably the most dominant season in UMAC history that saw them go 14-0 and a perfect 42-0 in sets played. The last time the Eagles lost a set in conference it was to their semifinal opponent, as the Vikings took the first set in last years regular season finale. Through 30 matches, Abby Glanzer and Ari Schmidt continue to pace the attack with 363 and 307 kills, respectively. The Eagles have divyed up setting duties this year, with Grace Strickfaden leading the team with 575 set assists including double digits in all contests but one. Marylyn Schroyer continues to be one of the top liberos in the country, as she has tallied a UMAC leading 601 digs on the season

The Series vs. Northwestern
Wednesday's contest marks the 36th all-time meeting between the two teams with the Eagles holding a 30-5 advantage. The Vikings will look to snap a 29 match losing streak, as their last win came on Sept. 30, 2006.