Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
11-1,0-0Big Ten
Loyola
6-7,0-0Atlantic 10
Volleyball Beats Loyola Chicago, Records Best Start Since 2012
9/17/2022 7:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHICAGO - The Northwestern volleyball team closed non-conference play with a 3-2 win (25-15, 23-25, 25-12, 16-25, 18-16) against Loyola Chicago, improving its record to 11-1. The Wildcats record is their best start to a season through 12 matches since 2012 (11-1).
As a team, Northwestern hit .302 and registered 60 kills. The Wildcats offense was paced by Temi Thomas-Ailara, who finished with a season-high 24 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .367, and by Leilani Dodson, who had 13 while hitting .478. Defensively, NU had three players reach double figures in digs, including Megan Miller's 17, 12 from Ellee Stinson, and 11 more from Alexa Rousseau. From the front row, Desiree Becker contributed eight blocks and Dodson added five.
Game Notes
» Leilani Dodson had a team-high two aces in the win and posted a season-high 13 kills.
» Northwestern got a match-high 17 digs from Megan Miller.
» Northwestern attackers were helped by a match and season-high 46 assists from Alexa Rousseau.
» Northwestern won its first five set match of the season.
» The Wildcats improve their record to 18-5 all-time against Loyola Chicago.
Ending non-conference with a 5-set W??
— Northwestern Volleyball (@NUVball) September 18, 2022
Cats down Loyola and sweep the Chicago Cup improving to an 11-1 record ??#GoCats || @NCAAVolleyball @B1GVolleyball @BigTenNetwork @NU_Sports pic.twitter.com/u368ygNaMR
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Wildcats seized an early lead, easily winning the first set 25-15. Northwestern never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 7-6 in a set that had just one lead change before the Wildcats took over the lead.
SET 2 | Northwestern dropped the second set 25-23 to tie the match 1-1. The Wildcats dropped the second set in spite of a solid performance on the attacking end. Northwestern put together a .367 attack percentage with 15 kills in the set loss.
SET 3 | Northwestern then got back on the winning track, emerging victorious in set three and taking a two sets to one lead in the match. The Wildcats won the set 25-12 thanks to a strong showing on the attacking side. Northwestern registered a .407 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set win. The Wildcats ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza.
SET 4 | Northwestern couldn't finish off a four-set win as the Ramblers forced a fifth set with a 25-16 victory. The Wildcats trailed by as many as nine points as Loyola Chicago grabbed the advantage for good at 4-3.
SET 5 | Northwestern and Loyola Chicago went back and forth all match, trading set wins until the Wildcats took set five 18-16 and the match.
The Wildcats start Big Ten play next weekend when they travel to Wisconsin at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 23 on B1G+.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
