Friday, November 1
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Illinois
Photo by: Henry Frieman/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Set For Friday Night Rematch With Illini
10/31/2024 7:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern volleyball returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday for a rematch with in-state foe Illinois. First serve between the Wildcats (4-14, 2-8 B1G) and the Fighting Illini (14-6, 6-4) is set for 7 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena and can be viewed on B1G+.
STORYLINES:
THE MATCH-UP:
UP NEXT:
The 'Cats continue their three-game homestand on Sunday when they host No. 2 Nebraska inside a sold-out Welsh-Ryan Arena. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT on B1G+.
STORYLINES:
- Buse Hazan led the Wildcat offense in both of their matches last week, logging 14 kills at No. 15 Minnesota and 12 kills at Indiana. The performances were good for her first double-digit kill matches since Oct. 6 at Illinois. Hazan saw decreased time on the floor through the first half of this month, but was back in a big way last Wednesday. Her .464 attack percentage against the Gophers was her second-best of this season in a game when she had ten or more kills, and her 14 kills compared to just one error that evening. Hazan has now posted 11 matches with double-digit kills, and has logged double-digit kills in all but three matches that she has played all sets in.
- Entering play Friday, the 'Cats have combined for 161 blocks as a team on the season, with seven different players contributing ten or more. With eight blocks as a team against Indiana on Sunday, Northwestern has totaled at least that many in seven of their Big Ten matches. Their 2.40 blocks-per-set clip ranks 10th in the Big Ten and 64th in the nation.
- Sophomore Drew Wright led the team with ten digs against the Hoosiers for her third straight double-digit dig match and her tenth of the season overall. Alexa Rousseau led the 'Cats in assists with 29, and her 3,716 career assists rank fifth in program history. Sophia Summers has been strong on serve for Northwestern, racking up nine aces over her last five matches after tallying just one in her entire career prior to this month.
THE MATCH-UP:
- Northwestern has faced Illinois more than any other team in program history, and the Wildcats hold a 32-65 record against the Illini all-time, dating back to the teams' first meeting in 1978.
- The 'Cats have faced off with the Illini once already this season, falling in four sets in Champaign. Buse Hazan led the offense with 11 kills, and Kennedy Hill chipped in with ten kills while hitting a blistering .643.
- Illinois enters play on Friday with a 6-1 record in their last seven matches, all against Big Ten opponents. Most recently, they captured a four-set victory against Iowa on the road.
UP NEXT:
The 'Cats continue their three-game homestand on Sunday when they host No. 2 Nebraska inside a sold-out Welsh-Ryan Arena. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballVolleyball - 'Cats Defeat Valparaiso in Home Opener Reverse Sweep (9/9/2025)
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Monday, November 11
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