Wildcats Notch Second-Straight Sweep, Defeat UNCW

9/2/2017 12:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. — Northwestern notched its second-straight sweep Saturday, defeating North Carolina-Wilmington in three sets at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

With the performance, the Wildcats (5-1) have won their last nine sets, dating back to their win over South Carolina Friday morning.

The Wildcats defeated the Seahawks, 25-17, 25-10, 25-17. Northwestern recorded a .357 hitting percentage compared to the .091 mark of UNCW.

Northwestern starts their season 5-1 for the first time since 2014.

Senior middle blocker Gabrielle Hazen posted one of the best performances in Northwestern history, as her .833 hitting percentage was the fourth-best for a Wildcats player all-time (min. 10 atts.) and the best overall since 1994. The Columbia City, Indiana, native had 10 kills on 12 attempts with no errors.

The Wildcats took control of the match from the beginning as NU maintained a multi-point lead throughout nearly the entirety of the first and second sets, with the biggest advantage coming from the 25-10 final score in the second set. The Wildcats recorded a whopping .500 hitting percentage in the second set.

North Carolina-Wilmington was able to make the third set competitive, including holding an 11-10 lead in the middle of the set. However, Northwestern's front line took over, with their firepower too much for the Seahawks defense. The #B1GCats won the third set, 25-17. Hazen picked up four of her blocks in the final set.

Northwestern will play next weekend in Chicago at the DePaul Invitational, facing off against Milwaukee, Army, and DePaul.

NOTABLE: Symone Abbott set her season high with 14 digs … Ivey Whalen had a career-high five kills in the matchup, as well as a career-high .833 hitting percentage (min. 5 kills) … Her five blocks were the most for a Northwestern player this season not named Gabrielle Hazen … Lexi Pitsas had a career-high 14 digs … Nia Robinson's 27 attempts were her most in her young Wildcats career … Alana Walker set a career high in kills (11) and attack percentage (.588) … Northwestern's 48 kills were tied for their most in a three-set match this season (with Duke).