Terry Douglass, Central Nebraska Today
GRAND ISLAND — Ava Janulewicz delivered when it mattered most, powering Northwest to a dramatic five-set victory over Class A Kearney in the Vikings’ home opener Tuesday night.
After dropping the third and fourth sets and falling behind 6-2 in the decisive fifth, Class B Northwest (3-2) stormed back to claim a 25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 15-25, 15-12 win behind Janulewicz’s match-high 27 kills.
The 5-foot-9 sophomore outside hitter sparked a 6-0 run that erased a 9-6 deficit in the final set, notching three kills during the stretch and capping her night with a decisive strike that gave the Vikings a 14-12 lead. Northwest sealed the win on a double block by Tessa Scheer and Nasya Anderson.
Elli Payne added 11 kills and Anderson chipped in nine as the Vikings outpaced the Bearcats 59-46 in total kills. Kenna Bowman orchestrated the Northwest offense with 44 assists, while Halle Rice contributed eight assists.
Kearney (2-3) was in danger of getting swept after dropping the first two sets and trailing 12-8 in the third, but rallied to take the third and fourth sets. The Bearcats built a 6-2 lead in the fifth, but couldn’t hold on.
Sophie Glandt (11 kills), Jamie Wilkens (10 kills), Willa Lewandowski (eight kills) and Kamryn Benson (seven kills) led a balanced Kearney attack. Bearcats’ setter Lena Arnold finished with 37 assists.