Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, November 18
East Lansing, Mich.
5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
13-15, 5-12B1G
1
at
3
Michigan State
15-13, 7-10B1G
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 26 | 25 | 23 | 9 | 1 |
| Michigan State | 28 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Team Stats
NU
MSU
Kills
54
57
Errors
26
18
Attempts
159
149
Hitting %
.176
.262
Points
66.0
74.0
Assists
51
52
Aces
5
4
Blocks
7.0
13.0
Game Leaders
Kills
25
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
Symone Abbott Sets New Career High with 25 Kills
11/18/2015 7:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Symone Abbott set a new career high with 25 kills Wednesday night at Michigan State, surpassing her previous high of 24 from earlier this season.
"I just think she was feeling it," head coach Keylor Chan said. "Symone is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. She is starting to become that dominant outside hitter that we need."
Abbott was unstoppable from the very beginning, racking up 18 kills in the first two sets before reaching her new career total on the second-to-last point of the match. She hit .352 over the course of the four sets to pave the way for the Northwestern offense.
The Wildcats lost to Michigan State 3-1, though, after dropping the first and third sets by just two points apiece.
Sophomore setter Taylor Tashima was incredibly efficient moving the ball around the floor as five Northwestern players reached double-digits in attempts. Tashima had 35 assists through two sets and ended the night with 48.
Caroline Niedospial, as she has done in almost every match this season, led the Northwestern defense with 22 digs. Rafae Strobos (13) and Katie Kniep (11) also tallied double-digit digs to help slow down an efficient Spartan attack.
Northwestern held Michigan State to just .167 hitting in the first set but couldn't close the deal as the match moved past the 25-point mark. The Spartans were able to win a set that saw 14 ties and five lead changes by a 28-26 score.
The Wildcats were not going to be stopped in the second set, as Abbott racked up 11 kills and Tashima handed out 18 assists en route to a 25-20 win.
The third was another two-point heartbreaker for Chicago's Big Ten Team. The 'Cats dropped the set 25-23 and were unable to recover, falling in the fourth and final frame 25-9.
"At this level, it comes down to execution in those critical moments," Chan said. "We have lost five matches that have been really good matches."
Northwestern will look to get back in the win column Saturday when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
"I just think she was feeling it," head coach Keylor Chan said. "Symone is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. She is starting to become that dominant outside hitter that we need."
Abbott was unstoppable from the very beginning, racking up 18 kills in the first two sets before reaching her new career total on the second-to-last point of the match. She hit .352 over the course of the four sets to pave the way for the Northwestern offense.
The Wildcats lost to Michigan State 3-1, though, after dropping the first and third sets by just two points apiece.
Sophomore setter Taylor Tashima was incredibly efficient moving the ball around the floor as five Northwestern players reached double-digits in attempts. Tashima had 35 assists through two sets and ended the night with 48.
Caroline Niedospial, as she has done in almost every match this season, led the Northwestern defense with 22 digs. Rafae Strobos (13) and Katie Kniep (11) also tallied double-digit digs to help slow down an efficient Spartan attack.
Northwestern held Michigan State to just .167 hitting in the first set but couldn't close the deal as the match moved past the 25-point mark. The Spartans were able to win a set that saw 14 ties and five lead changes by a 28-26 score.
The Wildcats were not going to be stopped in the second set, as Abbott racked up 11 kills and Tashima handed out 18 assists en route to a 25-20 win.
The third was another two-point heartbreaker for Chicago's Big Ten Team. The 'Cats dropped the set 25-23 and were unable to recover, falling in the fourth and final frame 25-9.
"At this level, it comes down to execution in those critical moments," Chan said. "We have lost five matches that have been really good matches."
Northwestern will look to get back in the win column Saturday when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
••••••
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Saturday, November 01
Volleyball - 'Cats Outlast Michigan in Five-Set Thriller (10/16/25)
Friday, October 17
Volleyball - Wildcats Sweep Campbell to Close Non-Conference Play (9/20/2025)
Sunday, September 21
Volleyball - 'Cats Defeat Valparaiso in Home Opener Reverse Sweep (9/9/2025)
Wednesday, September 10
