Tashima Continues Climb Up Record Book

10/5/2016 9:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score | Season Stats

EVANSTON, Ill. – Junior setter Taylor Tashima moved into sixth-place on the Wildcats' all-time assist leaderboard, adding 18 to her career total on Wednesday night.

Tashima's second assist of the match vaulted her past Madalyn Shalter, who recorded 2,537 assists from 2008-12. Tashima ended the night with 2,554 for her career. Next up is Andrea Proos (1985-88), who had 2,874.

Northwestern fell to No. 24 Illinois in three sets at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Junior outside hitter Symone Abbott had a team-high eight kills, while senior middle blocker Maddie Slater added five kills, while hitting .400 to continue to raise her career average to an all-time program best.

Senior Rafae Strobos started at libero for the 'Cats for the first time in her career. She notched a team-high 12 digs, which matched the season-high she set against North Dakota State on Sept. 16.

"I thought Rafae did a great job stabilizing our serve receives," head coach Shane Davis said. "She kept us in system a lot, and we're proud of what Rafae did on short notice."

Despite four kills each from Abbott and junior Gabrielle Hazen in the first set, Illinois' strong blocking helped win the first set 25-18. The Illini rode their momentum and took the second set, 25-13.

Northwestern battled back in the third frame and was tied 14-14 before the Illini closed out the set at 25-18.

The Wildcats are back in action on Sunday, Oct. 9, when they travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to take on the No. 1-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers at 2 p.m.