Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois-Chicago
Northwestern Blanks Illinois-Chicago, 3-0, in Season Opener
8/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern opened its 2006 season Tuesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena with a sweep of Illinois-Chicago, 30-22, 30-21, 34-32.
With the win, the Wildcats are 1-0 on the young campaign, and move to 23-6-1 all-time in season-opening matches, including 5-2 under head coach Keylor Chan. The Flames fall to 2-2 with the loss.
After splitting time as setter last season, junior Stephanie Jurivich (LaGrange, Ill./St. Ignatius) turned in a breakout performance in her first full match at the position. Jurivich finished with a double-double on a career-high 34 assists and 11 kills. Her .688 hitting percentage (11-0-16) also set a career high.
The first game of 2006 was a tight affair early before a pair of Lindsay Anderson (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) kills helped the 'Cats establish an 18-15 lead and force a Flames' timeout.
UIC would pull back to within one, 19-18, but Northwestern reeled off an 11-4 run to win game one, 30-22. Jurivich killed a pair of balls during the spurt, including the game-clincher.
Game two was much more lopsided in favor of the Wildcats, who hit .394 as a team in the game. Northwestern raced out to an 11-4 advantage, helped by three-consecutive blocks by junior Courtnie Paulus (Belgium, Wis./Ozaukee) and sophomore Chelsy Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere).
The closest UIC would get was four, 16-12, before NU put the game away, 30-21. Jurivich was 5-of-6 attacking in game two, and entered game three 8-of-9 with no errors in the match.
UIC came out of the break and led most of the way through game three, eventually earning a 26-19 advantage. A kill by junior Brittney Aldridge (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) and a UIC attack error made the score 26-21.
Following a Flames' kill, Anderson ripped off a pair of kills before another UIC attack error pulled the 'Cats within two, 27-25, and forced a UIC timeout.
Northwestern would tie the game, 28-28, on a Paulus ace. Three UIC game points and two NU match points later, Paulus and Aldridge combined on a block to give the Wildcats a sweep, 34-32.
Anderson finished with a match-high 13 kills, while freshman Kate Nobilio (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) turned in a match-best 15 digs in her collegiate debut. Paulus contributed seven blocks to tie her career high set last season against Michigan.
Aldridge notched eight kills and a .500 hitting percentage (8-0-16) to join Jurivich in having an error-free night on the attack.
Northwestern returns to action at 4 p.m. CT Friday, Sept. 1, against Charleston Southern at the Western Michigan Clarion Classic.
