Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Alabama
Wildcats Fall To Alabama In Heartbreaker, 3-2
8/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 30, 2003
ATLANTA, Ga. - In its second match of the Georgia Tech Courtyard by Marriott Classic, the Northwestern volleyball team fell to the University of Alabama 3-2 in a hard-fought battle. Game scores were 30-20, 21-30, 30-22, 30-24, 18-16.
Junior outside hitter Jill Buschur (New Bremen, Ohio/New Bremen) had a career-best day, as she led the way for the Wildcats with a career-high 21 kills, career-high three service aces and nine digs. Buschur also had a .318 hitting percentage.
Middle blocker Erika Lange added 18 kills and five digs to the Northwestern effort, while senior outside hitter Iwona Lodzik recorded her first double double of the season with 15 kills and 12 digs. Setter Drew Robertson had 52 assists.
Leading the way for Alabama, was junior outside hitter Erin Heffner led the way for 'Bama, recording 18 kills, three service aces and eight digs. Erin Price led the Crimson Tide with 44 assists.
In the first game, Alabama got off to a quick 8-2 start and the Wildcats were unable to catch up. Northwestern was down 15-6 at the midpoint, but appeared to be mounting a comeback with a 6-3 run. However, the 'Cats could not get any closer, as the Tide mounted a late 4-1 run and won by a score of 30-20.
The 'Cats rebounded in Game 2, going on a 5-1 run to start the contest. The Tide cut the score to 6-4, but NU scored nine of the next 11 points to go up 15-6. Much like the 'Cats had done in the first game, the Crimson Tide went on a mid-game run and cut the lead to five at 17-12 -- they would get no closer, though, as NU went on to win 30-21
In Game 3, Northwestern scored four unanswered points to erase a 4-1 deficit, and began to pull away from the Tide. At the midway point, the 'Cats had a 15-10 advantage. The Tide cut the score to within four at 20-16, but eventually Northwestern was victorious, 30-22.
Although the 'Cats took an early 3-1 lead in the fourth game, Alabama fought back and tied the score at four. The two teams swapped points before the Tide took a 12-10 lead. The Wildcats would cut the lead to one point a few times but could never regain the lead, as Alabama won 30-24.
The fifth and final game of the match was a battle. Alabama and Northwestern swapped points throughout the game and at the midpoint the 'Cats held an 8-7 advantage. The Tide took a two-point advantage at 12-10 late in the game, but Northwestern fought back, scoring two unanswered points, and tied the score at 12. The Wildcats fought off three match points late in the game, but it was not enough, as the Tide won by a score of 18-16.
With the loss to the Crimson Tide, Northwestern falls to 0-2 on the season. The Wildcats will return to action today later today with a match against Coastal Carolina at 4 p.m.
