Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Ohio State
Northwestern Falls in Sweep at No. 19 Ohio State
11/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 24, 2006
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Northwestern began its final Big Ten weekend Friday night at St. John Arena against No. 19 Ohio State, falling in a sweep, 30-13, 30-28, 30-23, to split the season series versus the Buckeyes.
The loss evens Northwestern's overall record on the year at 14-14. The 'Cats now are 8-11 in the Big Ten. With the win, Ohio State improves to 22-7 on the season, 12-7 in the conference. NU defeated OSU, 3-2, in the schools' previous meeting Oct. 14 in Evanston.
The Wildcats were without three-year starter Courtnie Paulus (Belgium, Wis./Ozaukee) for the match, out with an illness.
With Northwestern still adjusting to its new starting lineup, Ohio State raced out to the first lead of the match, forcing two early NU timeouts with a 14-3 run to open game one. The Wildcats never found their stride in the first game, falling, 30-13.
Northwestern came out much stronger in game two, earning an early 9-6 lead after a Julie Purcell (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) kill. Both teams fought back and forth, with Ohio State then edging ahead to a two-point lead, 16-14. When the Wildcats tied the game, 18-18, on a Cassie McLaughlin (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) kill, the Buckeyes called timeout.
Ohio State gradually inched ahead by two again, 24-22, and Northwestern used its first timeout of the game. The Wildcats used their second when that advantage hit three, 27-24. A Lindsay Anderson (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) kill and a Brittney Aldridge (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) service ace brought the 'Cats back to within one, 27-26, before an OSU attack error two points later knotted the score, 28-28.
The Buckeyes then took the next two points to win the game, 30-28, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Game three was close off the bat as well, until Ohio State took a four-point lead, 17-13, and NU used a timeout. That lead grew to six, 21-15, and the Wildcats used their second timeout. Once again, however, the deficit was too big to overcome, and NU fell in game three, 30-23.
Anderson finished with a team-high 10 kills for NU. Stephanie Jurivich (LaGrange, Ill./St. Ignatius) had 36 assists.
Northwestern returns to action in its regular-season finale at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 25, at No. 5 Penn State.
