Wildcats Repel Raiders, 3-0

9/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Sept. 17, 2011

Box Score

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Northwestern 3, Colgate 0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-22)
Records: NU (8-2), Colgate (3-8)
Next NU Event: Sept. 17, 2011 -- vs. New Mexico State (Wildcat Classic) 7 p.m. CT

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern made quick work of its Saturday morning session match at the Wildcat Classic, dispatching Colgate in straight sets, 25-14, 25-19, 25-22, to move to 2-0 at the 30th edition of its home tournament.

Northwestern asserted itself in the match early, forcing a fast Colgate timeout after Julie Chin served the Wildcats to a 5-1 lead. The Raiders would close to within three, 12-9, midway through the set before Northwestern put it in the books with a 13-5 run to take a 1-0 edge in the match. Stephanie Holthus was unstoppable in the set, throwing down eight kills on 12 swings with no errors (a .667 percentage), a solo block and an ace for a 10.0 point set.

In the second set, the Wildcats were able to turn a 12-11 deficit into a 14-12 lead after three-straight Colgate attack errors. Northwestern continued to maintain that edge until a Colgate timeout at 17-15. Immediately following the break, Madalyn Shalter notched a kill, Holthus recorded a solo block and Katie Dutchman and Shalter combined on another block to extend the Wildcats' cushion to five, 20-15. Two kills each by Yewande Akanbi and Kathryn Chrystal down the stretch gave NU a 25-19 set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

NU hit .353 (17-5-34) in that second set while holding Colgate to a negative hitting percentage of -.032 (7-8-31).

The third set was incredibly tight with Northwestern holding a 15-11 edge at one point before Colgate came back to tie the score. With the set still knotted, 21-21, Dutchman reeled off three consecutive kills to give the Wildcats three match points, 24-21. A Colgate service error two points later concluded the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.

NU notched its third-straight set with a .300 hitting percentage, reaching that number exactly in set three. For the match, the Wildcats hit .320 with 48 kills while holding the Raiders to an .084 percentage and 26 kills.

Holthus finished with a match-best 16 kills on 34 swings with three errors for a .382 hitting percentage. Middle blockers Chrystal and Dutchman both had superb offensive matches, with Chrystal contributing nine kills and a .462 hitting percentage while Dutchman recorded eight kills and hit .538. Shalter had 38 assists (12.67 per set) and Chin made 13 digs to pace NU.

Northwestern returns to action tonight in its final Wildcat Classic match, taking on New Mexico State at 7 p.m. CT.

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