IPSWICH – Last year Northwestern experienced a rare absence from the state volleyball tournament. Tuesday night, Ella Haven made sure that wouldn’t happen her senior season.

Haven was a force from all over the floor as the Wildcats recorded a 25-19, 25-22, 25-11 sweep over Faulkton during Class B SoDak 16 action at Ipswich.

She said last year’s disappointment was a motivating factor for the Wildcats.

“I never want it to be like that again,” Haven said.

The middle hitter then went out and made sure it wouldn’t happen again, reaching a milestone moment in the process.

Haven finished with 18 kills to set a new single season record with 586, eclipsing the previous mark of 577 held by Jussy Tuscherer.

“I think Ella was definitely on a mission to get that back,” said Northwestern coach Nora Groft of a another trip to the state tourney. “I thought she really showed up and took charge tonight.”

Haven set the tone early with four kills to start the match to stake the Wildcats to a 7-4 lead. Northwestern never trailed in the opening set on the way to securing a one-set advantage.

The Trojans turned the tables in the second set and led by as many as seven points. Faulkton still had a 16-11 edge before the Wildcats battled back and eventually claimed that pivotal set by scoring the final three points.

“I’m never looking to lose a set,” Haven said. “Getting tight like that just really makes us want to win it.”

The Trojans came up with several clutch digs in the closing stages of the set, but could not apply the finishing touches.

“The girls fought hard,” said Faulkton coach Mallory Schlechter. “We tried really hard to keep up in that set and we did, and that’s all we can ask for. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”

Once they owned a two-set lead and all the momentum, the Wildcats dominated in the third and final set as Haven served for five straight points, including a pair of aces, to give Northwestern a cushion to work with on the way to the sweep.

Haven finished the match with three aces and 18 digs to go along with her match-leading kill total.

“I just always try to look ahead and see what’s open, even before I’m hitting,” Haven said. “That is definitely a big help on finding my shot.”

Haven was unstoppable and it wasn’t like Faulkton didn’t put up resistance.

“She’s going to try to force it through the block and rightfully so,” Schlechter said. “She should. She hits hard and she’s a very good player.”

Haven makes it difficult for opponents because of her ability to hit all spots on the floor.

“You just don’t know where it’s going,” Groft said. “That’s really hard to defend. She’s so fast.”

Haven was the recipient of numerous pinpoint sets from fellow senior Brooklinn Halvorson, who finished with 27 assists on the night.

Ashley Haven added 10 kills and 14 digs to the Northwestern total.

Jaymi Senn led a balance Faulkton attack with eight kills, and Addison Melius and Kelli Stoecker each contributed six.

The Trojans played without regular starter Carley Cotton who broke her foot last week.

“These girls have been throught a lot,” Schlechter said. “We just really wanted them to play their best and we were proud of how hard they competed for every point, no matter what the score was.”

Northwestern, 27-8, is now headed back to the state tournament next Thursday through Saturday at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

It will be a new experience for many of the Wildcats, who do not have a junior on the squad and only three sophomores.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to have them play at the state tournament,” Groft said.

The Wildcats will face Wolsey-Wessington in the opening round.

Serving: Faulkton 5 aces (Aedyn Raethz 1 ace, Kelli Stoecker 1 ace, Tegan Baloun 1 ace, Trisha Cramer 1 ace, Gabby Kast 1 ace); Northwestern 70-73 5 aces (Ella Haven 12-12 3 aces, Ella Boekelheide 13-13 1 ace, Ashley Haven 11-12 1 ace).

Hitting: Faulkton 25 kills (Jaymi Senn 8 kills, Addison Melius 6 kills, Stoecker 6 kills); Northwestern 96-107 34 kills (E. Haven 42-47 18 kills, A. Haven 31-35 10 kills, Payton Grandpre 4-4 3 kills).

Setting: Faulkton 23 assists (Kast 21 assists, Melius 2 assists, Stoecker 2 assists); Northwestern 104-105 34 assists (Brooklinn Halvorson 85-86 27 assists, Boekelheide 6-6 3 assists).

Digs: Faulkton 34 (Melius 13, Kast 6, Cramer 5, Baloun 5); Northwestern 55 (E. Haven 18, A. Haven 14, Grandpre 8).

Blocks: Northwestern 2 solo 6 assists (A. Haven 2 solo 2 assists, Halvorson 2 assists).

Records: Faulkton 20-14; Northwestern 27-8.