Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Claims Marquette Challenge Crown
8/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2012
Box Score
Site: Milwaukee, Wis. (Al McGuire Center)
Score: Northwestern 3, Marquette 1
Records: NU (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten), Marquette (1-1, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Next NU Event: Aug. 31 -- vs. Drake (Las Cruces, N.M.), 5 p.m. CT
MILWAUKEE-- Northwestern found itself behind after one set for the second straight match, but once again the Wildcats roared back, this time to knock off the Marquette Golden Eagles in the finale of the Marquette Challenge, 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 28-26, 25-18).
Stephanie Holthus was named the tournament's most valuable player after she added 18 kills and 17 digs to help the Wildcats win the first event of the season. Katie Dutchman put forth one of her best efforts in a Northwestern uniform as she hammered down a career-high 16 kills at a personal-best clip of .682 (16-1-22).
Joining Holthus and Dutchman on the All-Tournament team were teammates Julie Chin and Madalyn Shalter. Chin gutted out 16 digs, while Shalter posted a match-high 52 assists.
Both teams came out energized at the start of the Sunday matinee. The Golden Eagles and Wildcats traded runs throughout the early going as neither squad obtained a lead larger than three points midway through the first set. Marquette nabbed an 18-15 lead and from that point forward, Northwestern would come no closer than one point. Leading 20-19, MU outscored NU down the stretch, 5-3, to win the first set, 25-22.
The two teams committed five service errors in the first set, but the Golden Eagles were slightly better on the attack. Marquette hit at a clip of .394 (16-3-33) to Northwestern's .256 (14-4-39) in the first set.
Neither side took control of the second set and the back-and-forth nature of the match continued. Holthus and Dutchman continued to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load, while several players, led by Chin and sophomore Monica McGreal displayed spectacular defensive prowess in performing numerous acrobatic digs.
Northwestern began to assert itself late by grabbing a 21-17 advantage late in the frame. The Golden Eagles mustered a comeback, pulling to within one point at 22-21, but with McGreal serving the 'Cats took advantage of three Marquette errors to close out the set and even the match at 1-1.
The Wildcats came out firing in the third set and scored the first five points of the game before Marquette got on the scoreboard with a kill from Erin Lehman. The lead moved to 8-2 in favor of NU after Dutchman put down a solo block off an attempted tip.
Marquette would not back down, however. Bond Shymansky's squad would not only cut into the deficit, but they would eventually take a 17-16 lead, which prompted Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan to call a timeout. The stoppage did not achieve the desired effect as Marquette went on to score three straight to build its lead to four at 20-16.
A kill by McGreal, her third of the match, and an ace by Shalter finally ended the stretch and appeared to shift the momentum in favor of the visitors. Northwestern rallied to tie the match at 20-20, all with Shalter at the line. The frenzy continued until an ace by freshman Abbie Kraus and an error by the Golden Eagles gave NU a 25-24 lead. With the score tied at 26, Dutchman buried a kill and Marquette committed another miscue to help Northwestern win the set, 28-26, and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Marquette committed 11 attacking errors in total in the third frame and compounded that with a pair of service mistakes.
The fourth set followed a similar pattern when the Wildcats raced out to an early 5-1 lead. Once again, the Golden Eagles flew right back into contention, but they would come no closer than two points when they trailed, 10-8. Northwestern followed that up with an 8-3 run to seemingly put the hosts on ice. The Wildcats won the final set by the widest margin of the afternoon, 25-18, as they claimed the Marquette Challenge crown.
NU hit .247 (58-19-158) in Sunday's and recorded 11 blocks defensively.
The Wildcats will travel to Las Cruces, N.M. next weekend to take part in a nonconference tournament hosted by New Mexico State. Northwestern opens play on Friday, Aug. 31 against the Drake Bulldogs at 5 p.m. CT. On Saturday, Sept. 1 the 'Cats will tangle with Cincinnati at 11 a.m. and the host Aggies at 8 p.m.
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