Sept. 13, 2008

NU vs. Wichita State Box Score

2008 Northwestern Volleyball Statistics

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Northwestern pounced out to an early 2-0 lead on 18th-ranked Wichita State, but the Shockers put together a furious comeback to knock off the Wildcats 3-2 (25-21, 25-16, 18-25, 19-25, 9-15) at the Cougar Challenge. The `Cats fall to 4-3 on the season while WSU remains unbeaten at 10-0.

NU jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the first set, only to see Wichita State whittle down the gap to tie the set at 13. But from that point on it was the Wildcats who were in control, outscoring the Shockers 12-8 to take the opening set 25-21. Sophomore Brittani Gray (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) led the way with seven kills for the `Cats while senior Chelsy Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) added six of her own. Sophomore Elyse Glab (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) controlled the pace on the offense for NU with 17 assists.

Wichita State opened up quickly in the second set, jumping out to a 9-6 advantage. But an 11-1 run by Northwestern catapulted the Wildcats in front 17-10. The Shockers would get to within three at 19-16, but a 6-0 run sealed the set for NU at 25-16. Sophomore Sabel Moffett (Temecula, Calif./Chapparal) led the offensive charge with five kills while Gray and Hyser each added three of their own as Glab dished out 10 assists.

The third set again saw Wichita State jump out to the early lead, pushing the advantage to double-digits at 19-9. Northwestern was able to dig into the lead slightly, but the Shockers held on for the 25-18 victory. Moffett again led the way with six kills and was complimented by three kills and nine assists from Glab.

Wichita State carried the momentum into the fourth set and jumped out to an early 10-6 lead, only to be answered by the `Cats tying the match at 13. A closely contested set, the Shockers used an 8-4 run to take the set 25-19 and force the decisive fifth set. Gray, Moffett and Hyser each had a trio of kills with junior Kate Nobilio (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) digging six balls.

After falling behind 6-2 early in the final set, Northwestern tried to rally behind a trio of kills from Moffett. But the reigning Missouri Valley Conference champions were able to finish off the comeback, taking the final set 15-9 to overshadow a career-high 19 kills from Moffett.

Gray contributed 15 kills and a career-high five services aces while Hyser added 14 kills and four blocks for Northwestern. Senior Kelly Keporos (Downers Grove, Ill./North) had a big game as well with six kills and 12 digs, second only to Nobilio's 17. Glab finished five kills, nine digs and 54 assists on the afternoon.

Northwestern wraps up its trip to the Pacific Northwest facing host Washington State in the finale of the Cougar Challenge at 9 p.m. tonight. It marks the first ever meeting between the two schools and the first match against a Pac-10 opponent for the Wildcats since defeating Arizona 3-2 in 2006.