Northwestern University Athletics
Volleyball Crushes Towson
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
September 18, 1998
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern volleyball team hit .689 in a three-game sweep over Towson in its 1998 home-opener and the second match of the Evanston Holiday Inn Wildcat Classic being held at Welsh-Ryan Arena this weekend. It is the second-highest hitting percentage for a three-game match in NCAA Division I history. The NCAA record of .800 was set by Colorado State vs. Loyola Marymount in 1987.
The Wildcats handily defeated Towson, 15-0, 15-0, 15-3. It marked the first back-to-back 15-0 games in school history for NU. The three points they gave up in the third game is the fewest amount of points ever given up in a single match. The previous school-best was four points allowed on September 26, 1981, in a victory over South Carolina (15-3, 15-1) and on October 3, 1987, in a win over Michigan (15-0, 15-2, 15-2).
The .689 hitting percentage -- also a school and Big Ten record -- came on 33 kills, 45 total attempts and only two hitting errors. Illinois held the previous Big Ten mark by hitting .635 vs. Northeastern Illinois in 1992.
Senior outside hitter Jessica Holloway led the balanced attack, going 8-of-10 with no hitting errors. Sophomore outside hitter Carmen Burbach was 7-of-14 with one hitting error. Senior setter Liz Renius dished out 22 assists in the win.
Northwestern improves to 7-2 and will play Mississippi tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m.
