Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 10
Ann Arbor, Mich.
6 p.m.
Northwestern
14-13, 4-11
3
at
2
Michigan
16-11, 6-9
1
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5
F
Northwestern
13
25
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21
15
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Michigan
25
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13
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Northwestern Battles Back, Topples Michigan in Five Sets
11/10/2017 8:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Sometimes, the story is not all-too-familiar.
Northwestern rebounded from a disheartening first-set loss at Michigan on Friday night to topple the Wolverines in five sets at the Cliff Keen Arena.
With the victory, the Wildcats exceeded its Big Ten win output from last season.
Northwestern played an all-around, team game in order to defeat the Wolverines, ranked 34 in the NCAA RPI. For the first time all season, four players had 10-plus kills, led by senior outside hitter Symone Abbott's 16.
In every set the Wildcats won, they mounted a hitting percentage above .400, highlighted by the .414 clip in the second set.
The Wildcats were unable to stop the potent offense of Michigan in the first set, as the Wolverines hit to a .625 clip. Abbott led the Wildcats in kills in the match-opener, tallying three on six swings without committing an error.
Chicago's Big Ten Team came out of the gate strong in the second set, pushing its lead to 7-1 before forcing a Wolverine timeout. Northwestern kept its foot on the gas, hitting .414 over the course of the set and defeating Michigan, 25-22.
Northwestern went back-to-back with a third set victory, 25-19. First-year middle hitter Alana Walker recorded four kills on six attacks in the set.
The two squads played a back-and-forth fourth set, with both teams exchanging blows up until the final stretch. After NU and Michigan were knotted at 19 points, the Wolverines went on a 6-2 run to end the set.
The Wildcats' hopes for victory seemed dire early in the fifth set, as Michigan surged to a quick 6-1 advantage. Four-straight NU kills and an ace by senior setter Taylor Tashima evened the score at six points apiece, which forced a Michigan timeout.
After the pause, both teams fought with desperation. After the Wildcats led 10-9, the game was tied or within one point until the match-winning ace by Tashima.
Northwestern posted its second five-set Big Ten win of the season.
The Wildcats return to Big Ten play Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. CT as they play #8 Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan.
Northwestern rebounded from a disheartening first-set loss at Michigan on Friday night to topple the Wolverines in five sets at the Cliff Keen Arena.
With the victory, the Wildcats exceeded its Big Ten win output from last season.
Northwestern played an all-around, team game in order to defeat the Wolverines, ranked 34 in the NCAA RPI. For the first time all season, four players had 10-plus kills, led by senior outside hitter Symone Abbott's 16.
In every set the Wildcats won, they mounted a hitting percentage above .400, highlighted by the .414 clip in the second set.
The Wildcats were unable to stop the potent offense of Michigan in the first set, as the Wolverines hit to a .625 clip. Abbott led the Wildcats in kills in the match-opener, tallying three on six swings without committing an error.
Chicago's Big Ten Team came out of the gate strong in the second set, pushing its lead to 7-1 before forcing a Wolverine timeout. Northwestern kept its foot on the gas, hitting .414 over the course of the set and defeating Michigan, 25-22.
Northwestern went back-to-back with a third set victory, 25-19. First-year middle hitter Alana Walker recorded four kills on six attacks in the set.
The two squads played a back-and-forth fourth set, with both teams exchanging blows up until the final stretch. After NU and Michigan were knotted at 19 points, the Wolverines went on a 6-2 run to end the set.
The Wildcats' hopes for victory seemed dire early in the fifth set, as Michigan surged to a quick 6-1 advantage. Four-straight NU kills and an ace by senior setter Taylor Tashima evened the score at six points apiece, which forced a Michigan timeout.
After the pause, both teams fought with desperation. After the Wildcats led 10-9, the game was tied or within one point until the match-winning ace by Tashima.
Northwestern posted its second five-set Big Ten win of the season.
The Wildcats return to Big Ten play Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. CT as they play #8 Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan.
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Team Stats
NU
MICH
Kills
59
65
Errors
15
25
Attempts
140
142
Hitting %
.314
.282
Points
76.0
79.0
Assists
56
61
Aces
5
7
Blocks
12.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballMH
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