Eagles Soar to Nationals: #2 Kirkwood Sweeps NDSCS to Punch Ticket to National Tournament

Wahpeton, N.D. — The #2-ranked Kirkwood Eagles Volleyball Team is headed back to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament — and they made sure there was no doubt about it. Traveling north to Wahpeton for the North Central-B District Championship, the Eagles dominated host North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in straight sets, 25-7, 25-17, 25-16, securing their automatic bid to Nationals in Cedar Rapids.

From the opening serve, Kirkwood set the tone with a blistering .652 hitting percentage in the first set, overwhelming the Wildcats with precision and poise. 

Leading the way for the Eagles was Marissa Cahoy, who tallied 9 kills on a .348 hitting clip, adding 10.0 points in a steady all-around effort. Carly Wazac added another 9 kills and 10.5 points, while Kaci Johnson filled the stat sheet with 8 kills, 16 assists, 7 digs, and 3 aces, showing why she's been one of Kirkwood's most versatile contributors all season.

Setter Avery Knoop orchestrated the offense beautifully, finishing with 18 assists and 3 service aces, while Madalyn Boyer provided a spark defensively with 6 digs and 8.0 points on 4 kills and a solo block. Middle blocker Chloe Baez was nearly flawless at the net, converting 5 kills without an error for a .714 hitting percentage.

Collectively, Kirkwood hit .316 for the match, recording 41 kills, 39 assists, and 7 aces, while holding NDSCS to a minuscule .009 hitting percentage and only 23 total kills. The Eagles' front line combined for 20 total blocks, closing off any offensive rhythm the Wildcats attempted to build.

With the sweep, Kirkwood officially punches its ticket to the 2025 NJCAA Division II National Tournament, which will be held in Cedar Rapids — right in the Eagles' own backyard. They'll now await Wednesday's NJCAA DII Selection Show to learn their official seed and first-round matchup.