Northwestern Sweeps Away Arkansas-Little Rock

9/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Sept. 10, 2011

Box Score

Site: Oxford, Miss. (Gillom Sports Center)
Score: Northwestern 3, Arkansas-Little Rock 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-14)
Records: NU (6-2), Arkansas Little-Rock (3-6)
Next NU Event: Sept. 16-17, 2011 -- 30th Wildcat Classic (Evanston, Ill.)

OXFORD, Miss. -- Northwestern finished off its Magnolia Invitational hosted by Ole Miss in strong fashion Saturday morning, sweeping away Arkansas-Little Rock 25-20, 25-22, 25-14.

Northwestern hit .325 as a team in the match while making 11.0 blocks. In the final set, the Wildcats committed just two errors and hit at a .444 clip.

The Trojans tried to build a big early lead in the first set of the morning, but the Wildcats kept reeling them back in. UALR earned a quick 8-5 advantage in the set and maintained the edge until the midpoint when NU jumped to a 15-12 lead thanks to a 3-0 spurt helped by kills from Hannah Crippen and Stephanie Holthus. The Trojans got back within one, 19-18, but the Wildcats scored six of the next eight points including back-to-back Holthus kills at the end to earn a 25-20 win.

Northwestern built a solid seven-point lead in set two, getting to 14-7 on a Julie Chin ace. Arkansas-Little Rock charged all the way back to take a brief 22-21 lead late, but the Wildcats responded in resounding fashion to score the final four points and take a 2-0 advantage in the match with a 25-22 win in the set.

Northwestern did not mess around in the third and final set of its Magnolia Invitational. Holding a two point, 10-8 lead, Northwestern proceeded to sprint away to a 25-14 win to sweep the match.

Holthus led NU with 16 kills and a season-best .452 hitting percentage. Freshman Yewande Akanbi hit .417 with seven kills, Crippen added seven kills on .385 hitting with six blocks and Kathryn Chrystal made a match-best seven blocks. Alex Ayers led NU in digs with nine and setter Madalyn Shalter set NU to its stellar hitting performance with 34 assists.

Holthus was named to the All-Tournament team; her third-straight such honor of the season.

Northwestern returns to action Sept. 16-17 at the 30th Wildcat Classic in Welsh-Ryan Arena. Season tickets are available for all of the action at NUsports.com.

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