Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Wildcats Drop Heartbreaker to Wisconsin, 3-2
11/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2002
MADISON, Wis. - Northwestern seemingly had its first season sweep of Wisconsin since 1986 in hand Wednesday night at the UW Fieldhouse. The Wildcats cruised to a two games-to-none lead and had the 14th-ranked Badgers on the ropes. However, Wisconsin dug deep and pulled out a 28-30, 25-30, 30-27, 30-25, 15-10 victory. The loss drops NU to 16-13 overall and 9-8 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin improves to 21-7 and 12-5.
Erin Byrd hit .397 and recorded 29 kills for the Badgers. Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill/Carl Sandburg) led the Wildcats with 21 kills, while Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) added 18 kills and 18 digs. Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./East) contributed 17 kills for Northwestern. Drew Robertson (Long Beach, Calif./Poly) totaled 64 assists.
The opening game was one that featured a number of runs by each team. With the score tied 9-9, the Wildcats used a 5-1 spurt to take a 14-10 lead. Wisconsin rallied to within 15-14 before NU pushed the lead back to three at 19-16.
Four straight points by the Badgers gave them a 20-19 advantage. Trailing 23-22, the Wildcats got three straight kills by Lodzik to take a two-point edge at 25-23, prompting a Wisconsin timeout. Following a point by the Badgers, NU scored three-straight for a 28-24 lead.
Northwestern had game point at 29-26, but Bucky scored two straight to close to within 29-28. However, a block by Lange gave the 'Cats the first game. Gardner led NU with six kills in the game, while Lange added five. The Wildcats won the game despite six service errors.
Game 2 saw the teams exchange the first eight points before Northwestern reeled off six straight to take a 10-4 lead and force an early Badger timeout. NU's lead was 18-11 before Wisconsin went on a 6-1 run to close to within 19-17.
The hosts eventually tied the game 22-22, but the Wildcats answered the run with a 4-0 spurt of their own for a 26-22 lead. Wisconsin would get no closer than three the rest of the way as the 'Cats took a two games-to-none lead. NU hit .353 in the game with 16 kills and only four errors. Lodzik paced the Wildcats with six kills in the frame.
The third game was tied 4-4 before Northwestern scored five consecutive points to lead 9-4. The Badgers closed to within 9-8 before the 'Cats pushed their advantage back to four at 13-9. UW would rally back to tie the game 14-14.
The score would be tied four times until Wisconsin surged ahead to take a 22-20 lead, forcing an NU timeout. The teams would trade the next seven points until Bucky's lead grew to 27-23 and Northwestern burned its final timeout. The Badgers held a 29-24 lead before NU closed to within 29-27. However, the visitors could not complete the comeback. Lange led the Wildcats with eight kills in the set, a total equaled by Byrd.
Game 4 was tied 7-7, but Wisconsin rattled off six of the next seven points for the 13-8. The 'Cats answered with an 8-3 spurt to tie the score 17-17. After an 18-18 tie, the Badgers scored three in a row, resulting in the Wildcats using their final timeout.
Northwestern rallied back behind the serve of Cassie McKnight to tie the score 22-22. However, Wisconsin closed the game on an 8-2 run to force the decisive fifth game. The Badgers hit .368 in the fourth game, compared to .147 for the Wildcats. Sheila Shaw led UW with six kills in seven swings.
Wisconsin scored four of the first five points in jumping out to the early lead in the final game. The 'Cats closed to within two three times before the Badgers held an 8-4 lead as the teams switched sides. Five more times the Wildcats got within two, but could not come all the way back. UW outhit Northwestern .421-to-.143 in the decisive game.
NU recorded eight service aces in the match, while Wisconsin did not record any. The Wildcats were hurt by 15 service errors compared to 10 for the Badgers.
Northwestern is back in action at 7 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Penn State on Senior Night in the home season finale.
