Northwestern
3-9,1-3Big Ten
Illinois
9-5,1-3Big Ten
Illini Beat 'Cats 3-1 in Champaign
10/6/2024 3:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Northwestern volleyball won the first set, but couldn't hang on and fell in four sets (25-22, 19-25, 18-25, 19-25) to the Illinois Fighting Illini Sunday on the road at Huff Hall.
The loss dropped Northwestern's record to 3-9 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten action.
The Wildcats attack was paced by Buse Hazan, who finished with 11 kills on the day, and by Kennedy Hill, who had 10 while hitting .643. On the defensive end, they got 14 digs from Drew Wright and nine blocks from Sophia Summers.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Wildcats persevered in a back-and-forth first set to win 25-22 in a stanza that featured four lead changes and was tied nine times. Neither team led by more than three points in the match. got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked five Illinois attacks in the stanza and capitalized on 10 Illinois attacking errors on the way to victory.
SET 2 | Northwestern then lost set two 25-19, evening things at a set each. Northwestern trailed by as many as nine points as Illinois grabbed the advantage for good at 5-4 in a set that was knotted up four times before the Fighting Illini took over the lead.
SET 3 | A set-three loss put Northwestern down 2-1. The Wildcats fell in a tough set 25-18. Northwestern trailed by as many as nine points as Illinois grabbed the advantage for good at 3-2 in a set that was knotted up two times before the Fighting Illini took over the lead.
SET 4 | Northwestern lost set four and the match, falling 25-19. The Wildcats trailed by as many as seven points as Illinois grabbed the advantage for good at 6-5 and Northwestern wasn't able to recover in a set that was knotted up two times before the Fighting Illini took over.
Game Notes
» Sophia Summers recorded a match- and career-high nine blocks. She's logged seven or more rejections in three of her last four matches.
» Buse Hazan had a team-high 11 kills for Northwestern. It was her eighth time at the top of the 'Cats' offense this year.
» Drew Wright led the defense with 14 digs.
» Northwestern attackers were helped by a team-high 23 assists from Alexa Rousseau, who was also one dig away from a double-double.
Up Next
The 'Cats return home this Thursday to host Ohio State at Welsh-Ryan. First serve between Northwestern and the Buckeyes is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+.
