Northwestern
Purdue
Women's Volleyball Edged by Purdue, 3-2
10/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 21, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern University women's volleyball team overcame a 2-0 deficit in games to Purdue Saturday night in West Lafayette, but fell in the fifth and deciding game, 15-13, for a 3-2 loss. It marked the second five-set loss in two nights for the Wildcats, who fell to 4-16 (1-9 Big Ten), while the Boilermakers improved to 10-12 (2-8 Big Ten).
In the first game, Northwestern fell behind, 4-1, before rattling off six straight points to take a 7-4 lead. However, Purdue answered with six points of its own for a 10-7 lead, then answered NU's next point with four more to up the advantage to 14-8 en route to a 15-9 win.
Northwestern had another impressive start in Game 2, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. However, Purdue had another six-point burst to gain the lead, then cruised from there to a 15-10 win.
Northwestern left nothing to chance in Game 3. Up, 6-5, the Wildcats went on a tear to gain nine straight points and roll to a 15-5 win. The carried the momentum into the fourth game, again breaking open a close game at about the midway point with seven straight points to win, 15-7.
In the rally-scoring fifth game, the Wildcats jumped out to a 5-2 lead before a trio of attack errors left the score at 6-4 for NU. The teams traded points, before Purdue went on a 3-0 burst to take its first lead at 8-7. The teams continued to go back and forth, tying at 8-8, 9-9 and 10-10 before the Boilers scored a pair of points to gain a lead they would not relinquish.
A service error by Purdue's Maegan Peterson cut the deficit in half, at 12-11, but kills by Julie Doud and Tiffany Yoskey put the score at 14-11. Another service error gave NU life at 14-12, and a service error by PU's Joanna Lowry made the score 14-13. However, Lowry followed with a kill to close out the game and the match.
Freshman Erika Lange had a monster game on the front line, with 25 kills and a .341 hitting percentage. She also had seven block assists to lead the 'Cats. Molly Kamp had six kills and 10 digs, while Carmen Burbach had seven kills and 16 digs.
For Purdue, Lowry led four players in double figures with 21 kills. Doud (15 kills, 14 digs) and Peterson (13 kills, 13 digs) had double-doubles.
Northwestern will be home next weekend, hosting Minnesota on Friday night and Iowa Saturday night. Both matches will start at 7 p.m. central.
