JAMESTOWN, N.D. (JimmieAthletics.com) – The 11th-ranked University of Jamestown volleyball team faced a tough challenge Monday night in the form of No. 2 Northwestern (Iowa) College.

The Red Raiders maintained their perfect season, improving to 23-0 overall and 11-0 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference with a 32-30, 25-17, 25-23 win over the Jimmies at Harold Newman Arena.

UJ had the biggest lead of a back-and-forth first set at 8-4, but Northwestern scored six of the next seven points to take an 10-9 lead. The teams traded leads and momentum appeared to be shifting towards the Raider side at 22-19. The Jimmies rallied for the next four points and a 23-22 edge. Tied at 30, Northwestern captured the final two points of the set.

The Jimmies were not able to close the gap in the second set after cutting Northwestern’s lead to 16-13. Four straight points by the Raiders made it 20-13, and Jamestown could only get within five points for the rest of the set.

In set three, UJ led 10-4 and 12-6 until Northwestern slowly made a comeback. The Jimmies eventually trailed by two at 18-16, but bounced back to claim at 23-22 lead. A kill for the tying point and two Jamestown attack errors provided the margin of victory.

Jamestown (20-4, 8-2 GPAC) lost for just the first time at home in six matches.

Corina Ruud (JR/Breezy Point, Minn.) led the offense with 10 kills, followed by Britta Knudson (SR/Bismarck, N.D.) with nine and Jordan Thomas (SR/Pingree, N.D.) with seven.

Miranda Lowman (SR/Mandan, N.D.) had 17 assists and Jackie Meiklejohn (SO/Dickey, N.D.) 12, just missing out on a double-double with nine digs.

Sydney Ellingson (JR/Langdon, N.D.) (15) and Hannah Schiele (SO/Jamestown, N.D.) (14) each finished in double figures for digs. Taylor Sabinash (SO/Kensal, N.D.) recorded four total blocks, including two solo, and Ruud had three block assists.

UJ hosts Doane (Neb.) Friday at 7:30 p.m.