Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
12-1 (2-0B1G)
Maryland
7-6 (0-2B1G)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 15 | 25 | 25 | 16 | 15 | 2 |
| Northwestern | 25 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 17 | 3 |
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Wildcats Continue Winning Ways by Topping Terps, 3-2
9/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern got off to a fast start Saturday night and was able to grind out an important conference win over the visiting Maryland Terrapins, 3-2 (25-15, 23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 17-15). It was the second Big Ten triumph in as many nights for the Wildcats and their 12th victory overall in 2014.
After defeating both B1G newcomers this weekend, the Wildcats begin conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2010, which was also the last time that Northwestern played into the postseason. Chicago's Big Ten Team also moved to 3-0 in five-set affairs this season with wins also coming against (rv) Colorado in DeKalb, Ill. and Ohio at home. Factoring in last season's record, Northwestern is 9-2 in its last 11 five-set contests.
"It was a bumpy ride at times tonight, but we never quit" said Northwestern Keylor Chan. "We were prepared at the start of the match and got off to a quick start. After that Maryland pushed back hard and really put us on our heels. I'm proud of the team for weathering through the storm and finding a way to pick up those crucial points down the stretch."
It was the Terrapins, playing in only their second Big Ten match, that had the first chance to finish the tilt in the decisive fifth set. Maryland led 13-11 before back-to-back kills from Katie Dutchman and Yewande Akanbi knotted the score again. After a timeout, NU had its 11th service error of the night, setting up match point for Maryland. Dutchman had other ideas and she helped to side the visitors out with her fifth kill of the evening to even the score, but soon an Akanbi error put Maryland up one again, 15-14.
After her miscue, Akanbi made a pair of pivotal plays. The senior from Houston buried her ninth kill of the match to pull the Wildcats even once again at 15-all, and after an attack error on the Terps, Akanbi stuffed Catie Coyle's effort to win the match and send the boisterous crowd into a frenzy.
In order to even get to the fifth set, NU had to battle back all night long. The 'Cats led 1-0 after claiming the first set, 25-15, but dropped the next two by identical 25-23 scores to fall behind, 2-1. Northwestern came back to life in the fourth set when it hit .417 as a team, while holding the Terps to just seven kills with seven errors. The home team would go on to win the fourth set, 25-16, after outscoring Maryland 9-2 down the stretch.
Freshman Symone Abbott did much of the heavy lifting in the fourth frame by connecting for four kills on five attempts. Abbott's classmate, Tashima, notched three kills of her own from her setter position, while handing out nine assists and adding a couple of digs and a block. Tashima, who hails from nearby Wilmette, Ill., had two of her kills and three assists during that final surge.
Earlier in the night, in first set, the Wildcats picked off where they left off during Friday night's sweep over Rutgers. The 'Cats hit .344 with 15 kills during the game to secure a comfortable 25-15 victory. Nursing a one-point lead at 8-7, Northwestern unleashed a 10-1 run to get up 10 points and Maryland would come no closer than nine for the rest of that frame.
In seven matches at Welsh-Ryan Arena this season, NU is holding the opposition to an attacking percentage of .110. Ohio had the top average on Sept. 18 at .247, but four times the Wildcats have kept the visiting team below .104, which was Maryland's effort Saturday. NU is hitting .264 at home this season, and has never been below .217 for a match. The 'Cats have won 19 of their last 25 home matches dating back to end of the 2012 campaign.
Sophomore Kayla Morin led the charge offensively in the opening set as she pounded down six kills to go along with three digs and a block. Defensively, Caroline Niedospial led the way with seven digs and Tashima and Maddie Slater sent down two blocks apiece.
Morin led the Wildcats Saturday with a career-high 18 kills to go along with six digs and a block. Abbott matched her own career-best mark with 17 kills. Tashima secured her fifth collegiate double-double behind 46 assists and 12 digs (matched career high). Her six kills also marked a career-high effort. Niedospial turned in a match-high 24 digs, while Dutchman led her side with five blocks.
The Wildcats will conclude their season-long nine-match homestand with Big Ten battles against two nationally ranked opponents next week. Northwestern first hosts No. 5 Wisconsin at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 1 before welcoming No. 17 Minnesota to Evanston for a matinee on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
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