Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Wildcats Wallop Wolverines, 3-1
11/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Behind the third-best blocking night in terms of assists in school history, Northwestern gave Lizzie Carlson (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) and Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./West Bend East) a successful Senior Night Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena, defeating Michigan in four games, 30-24, 30-28, 22-30, 30-24.
The Wildcats recorded 32 block assists on the night, trailing only a 34-block performance against Indiana in 2002 and a 35-block game versus LSU in 1988 in the team match record book.
With the win, Northwestern improves to 18-10 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten and runs its current winning streak to six. Michigan falls to 13-14, 7-11.
While the 'Cats have one remaining home match -- next Wednesday against Wisconsin -- NU designated Saturday night to honor its seniors. Carlson took the opportunity to tie her career-high for digs with 19, while Gardner chipped in 32. Gardner's total gives her five of the top-10 single-match dig performances in school history.
Northwestern held a slim lead throughout much of game one until Michigan tied the score, 23-23. The Wildcats then went on a 7-1 run to close out the game, forcing six Michigan attack errors for a 30-24 win.
Northwestern jumped out to a much quicker advantage in game two, opening up a nine point lead, 19-10. Michigan roared back to eventually take a 26-23 lead.
The Wildcats responded to tie the match, 28-28, before forcing another pair of Wolverine attack errors to close out the second game, 30-28. Sophomore Stephanie Jurivich (LaGrange, Ill./St. Ignatius) and freshman Chelsy Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) combined on a block for the final NU point.
In game three, it was Michigan taking the huge early advantage. The Wolverines at one point led by 10, 19-9, before winning game three, 30-22.
The game was the first Northwestern had dropped in its last nine.
Northwestern never let Michigan contend in the fourth game, grabbing an early nine-point lead, 15-6, and never letting the Wolverines get closer than six the rest of the way for a 30-24 fourth game win and a 3-1 final score in the match.
Hyser blocked a career-high eight balls, while Jurivich and sophomore Courtnie Paulus (Belgium, Wis./Ozaukee) each finished with seven -- career highs for both. Aldridge added a season-best nine blocks for the 'Cats.
Paulus led NU with 14 kills, while sophomore Lindsay Anderson (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) and junior Julie Purcell (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) each added 12. Aldridge chipped in with 10 kills and a team-best .350 hitting percentage.
Northwestern returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday night in its final home match of the season, hosting Wisconsin.
