SIOUX CITY, Iowa –
The Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats won their third consecutive Red Banner on Tuesday night in the Tyson Events Center against the Northwestern (Iowa) Red Raiders in four sets (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19).
At the beginning of the season, Indiana Wesleyan had a bumpy start, battling injuries. The Wildcats recorded losses to Concordia (Neb.), Bellevue (Neb.) and Viterbo (Wis.) before hitting their stride. IWU then went on a 17-match win streak before a loss to Crossroads League opponent Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio). The Wildcats then went on a 12-match winning streak, which culminated in a conference title and a trip to the NAIA national championship match for the third consecutive year.
Northwestern had only three blemishes on its record this season, the last of which came on Sept. 20 to Oklahoma Wesleyan. Since then, the Red Raiders have gone on a 22-match win streak that saw them capture the Great Plains Athletic Conference title and advance to the NAIA national championship match for the second time in three years.
The 2025 championship match is a rematch of the 2023 championship match, in which Indiana Wesleyan won its first title, and Northwestern made its first championship appearance. They also met earlier this season on August 20, when Northwestern traveled to Indiana Wesleyan and the Wildcats won the match in four sets.
Tonight, the two teams meet again, with the Wildcats hoping for a third title and the Red Raiders their first.
The match opened with teams trading points until seven all on the scoreboard before Indiana Wesleyan went on a 12-point run. Northwestern hung around and made their move at 23-18, where the Red Raiders went on a five-point scoring run to tie the score at 23. However, with a kill by Eva Joldersma and a solo block by Marin Sanchez, IWU took the opening set 25-23.
NWC opened up the second set with the first three points and held the lead until a 7-2 scoring run that gave the Wildcats their first lead of the set at 11-9. A quick back-and-forth and the teams were tied again at 11 and 12 before another 7-2 scoring run by the Wildcats. But Northwestern wasn’t done yet as they went on a five-point run at 23-20, sparked by a kill off the hand of Stella Winterfield that closed out set two, 25-23 in favor of the Red Raiders.
With a tie of one set apiece on the scoreboard, the teams continued the Battle for the Red Banner into set three. IWU struck first blood in the third set with a kill from Marissa Mullins. The teams fought through seven ties, but at 14 all, a kill from Shae Williams sparked a four-point run that gave the Wildcats the advantage they would not relinquish for a 25-18 set four win, which was clinched with a kill from Eva Joldersma.
Marissa Mullins started things off for the Wildcats in set four as IWU took the initial lead in the set. The teams traded points until 14 all when an 8-2 scoring run gave Indiana Wesleyan a six-point lead that they would see through to a 25-19 set and match win.
With the win, IWU became part of an elite group with three other teams (Fresno Pacific (Calif.), Brigham Young-Hawaii, and Hawaii-Hilo) that have won three consecutive titles.
All-Tournament Team
Eve Fountain, Bellevue (Neb.)
Ashley Keck, Concordia (Neb.)
Ella Waters, Concordia (Neb.)
Makayla Rginski, Corban (Ore.)
Kiera Vaughn, Eastern Oregon
Brooke Womack, Eastern Oregon
Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan
Shae Williams, Indiana Wesleyan
Marissa Mullens, Indiana Wesleyan
Enya Fierens, McPherson (Kan.)
Gabi Jakubowska, Missouri Baptist
Zavyr Metzger, Northwestern (Iowa)
Stella Winterfeld, Northwestern (Iowa)
Bella Thompson, Providence (Mont.)
Setter of the Tournament: Bella Thompson, Providence (Mont.)
Defender of the Tournament: Zavyr Metzger, Northwestern (Iowa)
Attacker of the Tournament: Stella Winterfeld, Northwestern (Iowa)
Tournament MVP: Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan
Coach of the Tournament: Candace Moats, Indiana Wesleyan