Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
University of Connecticut
Northwestern Volleyball Loses 3-2 to UConn
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 7, 2001
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Northwestern volleyball team (2-2) started the Nike Pacific Invitational with a 3-2 (30-24, 30-28, 30-18, 30-19, 15-8) loss to Connecticut (5-0) Friday.
Two Wildcats posted double-doubles, as junior outside hitter Kelli Meyer (Madison, Wisc./Edgewood) had 14 kills, hitting .364, and 10 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Molly Kamp (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore) came up with big plays and hit 12 kills and had 22 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) also had 14 kills.
Team statistics were evenly matched, with the Wildcats serving up 10 aces and and a total of 10 blocks. They held UConn junior outside hitter Melissa Wooley to just a .098 hitting percentage.
The 'Cats came out and dominated Game One, never trailing and taking a nine-point advantage over the Huskies at one point in the game. A series of late-game kills by Kamp put the game out of reach for UConn.
In Game Two the tension mounted as great defense by both teams led to long cross-court volleys. The lead changed hands three times before UConn went on a 6-0 streak. But the Huskies almost gave Northwestern a comeback victory on errors alone, which gave the Wildcats five points and closed the gap to a 30-28 finish.
The Wildcats breezed through Game Three, stretching the lead by 12 points. Junior middle blocker Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) had a quick two block, one kill series midgame to light a fire under her team. Lange posted four of her kills and three blocks in that game, and Northwestern held Wooley to .034 hitting.
Game Four marked the biggest defecit of the match for the 'Cats and the first time this season they have been held to less than 20 points in a game. UConn served up 12 straight points and Wooley had six kills to give the Huskies the match.
By the final game Northwestern was committing more errors than kills and couldn't stop UConn's hometown favorite, freshman outside hitter Jamie Hadenfeldt, who finished the match hitting .345 with 13 digs.
Northwestern takes on George Washington Saturday at 10 a.m. PST and host No. 8 Pacific at 7 p.m. PST.
