Northwestern
Illinois
Northwestern Drops 3-0 Decision To Illinois
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 12, 2003
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Northwestern could not extend its three-match winning streak to four after being swept by No. 25 Illinois 30-22, 30-28, 30-27. With the loss, the Wildcats are now 16-11 overall, 7-8 in the Big Ten.
Northwestern controlled game one early, taking the lead at 3-2 and extending that lead to five points at 17-12. The Illini came back and evened the game at 18 after an eight-point run with Shelly O'Bryan serving. Illinois put together another late run of five to seal the 30-22 victory. Northwestern was held to a -.047 attack percent compared to Illinois' .179 overall.
The Wildcats dug themselves into a hole early in the middle game, down 13-5 to start off. Again, down by eight at 18-10, they clawed their way back into the game and got to within two at 27-29. Lauren Greenwood (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood) was brought in to serve and took the 'Cats to 28, but the Fighting Illini killed the point for the 30-28 win.
NU hit at .237 in the game, and Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill/Carl Sandburg) led the Wildcats at that point, killing seven of 12. Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) was 5-15.
Northwestern did not go away easily in the third, keeping it within two through the middle of the game. Illinois pulled away with a five-point lead at 26-21, but the 'Cats came back with Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./West Bend East) on the line. Gardner helped bring NU to within two, but Illinois again rebounded to lead 28-25. The Wildcats couldn't hold on and dropped game three 30-27.
Overall, Jill Buschur (New Bremen, Ohio/New Bremen) led the 'Cats with a .364 attack percent, going 9-22 with two digs. Lange was 12-23, while Gardner and Lodzik each had nine digs. Northwestern held an eight to six advantage in blocks, but Illinois hit at .211 compared to NU's .091 hitting percentage.
"We didn't play the way we were capable of," said head coach Keylor Chan. "But now we look toward Friday and working for another win at home."
NU will face No. 23 Wisconsin at 7 p.m. Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
