Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
15-11,5-9Big Ten
UCLA
14-10,8-6Big Ten
Wildcats Come Up Just Short at UCLA
11/9/2025 12:03:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The 'Cats gave the UCLA Bruins all they could handle on Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion, but Northwestern came up just short in five sets (18-25, 25-20, 14-25, 25-16, 16-18) on the road.
The loss dropped Northwestern's record to 15-11 overall and 5-9 in Big Ten play, while UCLA improved to 14-10 and 8-6.
The Wildcats were led by a double-double from Ayah Elnady, who registered 14 kills and 11 digs on the night. Buse Hazan came alive late in the match, finishing with a season-high 18 kills, while Campbell Paris chipped in 14. On the defensive end, Drew Wright led with 17 digs, while the 'Cats got four blocks from Kayla Kauffman.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Wildcats found themselves in an early hole in set one, with the Bruins building a six-point margin to lead 15-9 at the break. From there, UCLA stretched the lead to as many as nine points as the 'Cats struggled to find momentum. Paris contributed three kills in the late stages of the opening frame, but it wasn't enough, as the Bruins took a 25-18 victory in set one.
SET 2 | UCLA once again got off to a hot start in the second set, capitalizing on Northwestern errors to build an early 5-1 lead. This time, however, Northwestern had an answer, as back-to-back kills from Elnady brought them within one point, 5-4. Though they trailed by as many as six points in the first half of the set, the Wildcats kept fighting back. Fresh into the game, Hazan used a pair of kills to keep the 'Cats close, then a kill from Bella Simkus cut the UCLA lead to two points, 15-13, and forced a Bruins timeout. From there, it was all Northwestern as the 'Cats outscored the Bruins 12-5 the rest of the way to secure a 25-20 set-two victory. Elnady and Hazan led the charge to even the match, collecting six and five kills, respectively, in the second set.
SET 3 | UCLA regained the match lead, 2-1, with a dominant win in the third set. The Bruins opened on a 8-1 run and never looked back, cruising to a decisive 25-14 victory.
SET 4 | The fourth set turned the tables, with Northwestern starting play with a 5-0 run of its own. A UCLA timeout did little to halt the 'Cats' momentum as Lauren Carter provided some unexpected offense, accounting for three of the team's first four kills and helping grow the lead to 7-2. Northwestern kept its foot on the gas down the stretch, once again leaning on the offensive power of Elnady and Hazan to lock up the fourth set, 25-16, and force a fifth.
SET 5 | Both teams came out ready for the fifth set, which featured 13 ties and required extra points to decide. Neither side could gain an advantage of more than one point until a 3-0 UCLA run forced a Northwestern timeout with the score at 10-7 in the Bruins' favor. Out of the break, however, a UCLA error and a pair of kills from Paris brought the set back even, 10-10. The Bruins reached match point first, 14-12, but an error and an electric kill from Hazan tied the set once again. The 'Cats had an opportunity of their own leading 15-14, but couldn't follow through. In the end, it was UCLA who converted at last, putting together a pair of back-to-back kills from Cheridyn Leverette to win the set 18-16 and the match 3-2.
Game Notes
» Ayah Elnady registered her second straight double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs. She has now recorded double-doubles in three of her last four matches.
» Though she appeared in only four of five sets, Buse Hazan finished with a match-high 18 kills for Northwestern. She became the fourth player this season to record a match with 18 or more kills, joining Elnady, Bella Bullington and Rylen Reid.
» Northwestern attackers were helped by a team-high 34 assists from Lauren Carter, who also tallied five kills, seven digs and a service ace.
» Carter's five kills against UCLA matched her total from the other 25 matches this season combined.
» Drew Wright's 17 digs tied her season high, set in the opener against New Mexico State (Aug. 29).
» Campbell Paris' 14 kills were her most against a Big Ten opponent this year.
Up Next
Northwestern continues its stretch of road games on Thursday, when the 'Cats travel to Iowa City for a rematch with the Iowa Hawkeyes. First serve from Xtream Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on B1G+.
