Northwestern Drops Home Opener to #18 Penn State

9/25/2016 3:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score | Season Stats

EVANSTON, Ill. – Symone Abbott and Gabrielle Hazen registered double-digit kills, and Taylor Tashima climbed ever higher in the record books, but No. 18 Penn State bested Northwestern in the Wildcats' home opener on Sunday afternoon.

Abbott has recorded 10 or more kills in every match this season. She needs just 24 more to become the 22nd player in program history to reach 1,000 in a career. Hazen hit .444 on the day to lead the 'Cats.

"Symone is going to be one that everyone keys on," head coach Shane Davis said. "It is a growing process for her, and we are asking her to do a lot. It is about how she can manage that and hopefully she can thrive."

The Wildcats are 7-7 on the season.

Junior setter Taylor Tashima continued her ascent through the record book. Her 26 assists on Sunday moved her into seventh place all-time in program history with 2,486 for her career. She passed Kelli Meyer, who recorded 2,466 assists from 1999-2002.

The Wildcats traded blows with the Nittany Lions in the first set and jumped out to an 18-14 lead. With the score tied at 23-all, the 'Cats grabbed the first set point of the match but could not convert. After trading set points, Penn State came away with the first set 27-25.

The Nittany Lions claimed an early five-point lead in the second set at 14-9. The 'Cats responded with a run to cut the lead to 16-14, but Penn State won nine of the next 12 points to take the second set 25-17.

Northwestern hung tough early in the third set, but Penn State continued to hit the ball well en route to a 25-17 third set victory.

The Wildcats continue Big Ten play on Wednesday, Sept. 28, when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, to face the No. 17 Ohio State Buckeyes. That match will be nationally televised on Big Ten Network.