Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Pacific
Wildcat Volleyball falls to No. 8 Pacific 3-0
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2001
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Northwestern volleyball team lost 3-0 (30-16, 30-21, 30-19) to their first nationally ranked foe as No. 8 Pacific took the Nike Pacific Invitational title.
The Wildcats (3-3) were soundly defeated at the hands of tournament MVP Jennifer Joines, who had 15 kills with a .419 hitting percentage for the match. As a team the Tigers (8-1) hit .404 while Northwestern was held to .094 hitting and 20 attack errors.
Junior outside hitter Kelli Meyer (Madison, Wisc./Edgewood) had the high numbers for NU with 9 kills and six digs. Meyer was named to the All-Tournament team after the match. Junior middle blocker Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) had a match-high five total blocks.
In Game One Meyer made key kills early in the game to keep the score tied, but a 10-1 run by Pacific destroyed any momentum the 'Cats may have gained. NU couldn't stop the penetrating kills of Joines, Jamie Hamm and Elaine Goeders.
Northwestern trailed by 11 at one point in the second game, seeming to rally near the end, but Misty Swails came off the bench for Pacific and hit six kills. By the third game the Tigers had gone on a 16-1 run with back-to-back service aces by jump server Megan Hauschild, but sophomore outside hitter Jill Buschur (New Bremen, Ohio/New Bremen) sparked a late rally that staved off match point for seven plays.
One thing the 'Cats did well defensively was dig hard-hit attacks by the Tigers. Both teams finished the match with 39 digs.
"Passing is the key," Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan said following the tournament. "If you don't pass, you don't win, and we didn't pass."
"It's important that we play at this high of a level because we are in one of the best conferences in the country," Chan said.
In preparing to host next weekend's Wildcat Classic, Chan said the team will focus on passing and ball control.
The first game of the Classic is Friday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. as Butler takes on Western Kentucky. Northwestern opens its home season against Army the same day at 1:30 p.m. All games will take place in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
