Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Women's Volleyball Defeats Illini in Thriller, 3-1
11/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 16, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - In a thriller to the wire, the Northwestern Wildcats defeated Illinois, 3-1 (14-16, 15-12, 16-14, 15-11) on Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Carmen Burbach (Columbus, Neb./Scotus Central Catholic) had an outstanding performance with 20 kills, seven digs and two blocks. Burbach tallied a .405 hitting efficiency (20k-3e-42ta).
With the victory, Northwestern improves to 5-22 on the season and 2-15 in the Big Ten. The Illini are now 13-15 and 4-13 on the season.
Things started off well for Illinios, as they took a big lead in game one and went on to win, 16-14. The Illini would take big leads in games two, three and four, but the persistent 'Cats would come back to win each and the match.
Game one was a back and forth affair, with neither team able to gain control. Illinois picked up some momentum to take a 8-4 lead, but could not shake the pesky Wildcats. NU picked up the pace and tied the game at 11 apiece. The Illini answered and took a 12-11 lead on a Shadia Haddad kill. The two teams again traded points until a block by Burbach knotted the game at 14. A Lindsay Pavlik (Laguna Beach, Calif./Mater Dei) service error gave Illinois control of the ball. The Illini would take the final two points to win, 16-14.
Northwestern had to come from behind to win the next game. Down 9-3, the 'Cats rallied, scoring four straight points to make the score 9-7. The Illini took one more point on a kill by Gard before a kill by Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) tied the game at 10 apiece. Lange struck again to give NU its first advantage of the match. An NU ball handling error would tie the score once more, but Illinois could not capitalize on the Northwestern error. NU put it away with a block by Lange and Pavlik, winning 15-12.
Game three was much like the previous. The Illini got off to a quick start and forced NU to play catch up for most of the game. NU opened the door when Pavlik stepped back to serve with the score at 12-6. The Wildcats would the next four points to get within two (12-10). An Illini attack error tied the score, and a kill by Adriana Ruhl (Stockton, Calif./Lincoln) put the 'Cats up by one. An Illini hitting error gave NU a two point advantage, but it would not end there. Illinois' Betsy Spicer laid down a kill for a sideout and tallied another to put the Illini within one. An NU attack error tied the score at 14. The 'Cats turned up the intensity with a kill from Lange to regain control of the ball. Pavlik would record a kill for the advantage, and a block by Lange and Meyer put the game away, 16-14.
Fighting to stay alive, the Illini took a 4-0 lead to start game four. NU got on the board on an Illini attacking error. Slowly the 'Cats inched their way back into the game, getting within four (11-7) before Kelli Meyer (Madison, Wis./Edgewood) got the 'Cats within striking distance. With an Illini attack error and three aces by Meyer, the 'Cats tied the game at 11. Two Burbach kills forced Illinois to call a timeout with NU up 13-11. An attack error by the Illini set the 'Cats up for match point. A Spicer attack headed straight for a block set up by Ruhl and Burbach to end the match (15-11).
Burbach and Lange directed the Northwestern offense, each recording 20 kills. Lange led the Wildcats at the net with 10 blocks, while Ruhl picked up a career-high 13 digs.
Hadad led the Illinois attack with 22 kills, 12 digs and four blocks. Spicer picked up 16 digs and five blocks in the loss.
Northwestern is back in action Friday, Nov. 17 against Purdue. This is the last match at Welsh-Ryan for the season, and for seniors Burbach, Jennifer Armson (Portage, Wis./Portage) and Tracy Lato (Phoenix, Ariz./Central). Match time is set for 7 p.m.
