#B1GCats Drop Tight Contest at No. 16 Purdue

9/22/2018 8:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Northwestern volleyball (10-4, 0-2 Big Ten) put on a valiant effort in their first ranked matchup of the season, but fell to No. 16 Purdue (12-1, 1-1 Big Ten) in four sets on Saturday night.

Chicago's Big Ten Team next has its home opener on Friday, Sept. 28, against No. 3 Nebraska. The contest will be held at Evanston Township High School's historic Beardsley Gym, the temporary home of the 'Cats until the new Welsh-Ryan Arena is unveiled on Nov. 9.

No. 16 PURDUE 3, NORTHWESTERN 1 (22-25, 25-13, 25-22, 25-19)

TEAM NOTES:

Northwestern and Purdue matched up for the 85th time in history … That is tied with Northwestern-Illinois for the most all-time matchups between two squads (with Illinois) in Wildcat history.
Two of the last four times the Wildcats have played a ranked opponent, the match has gone into extra sets.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

Ella Grbac led the Wildcats with 15 kills, one shy of her career-high … Amassed 29 kills in the two-match weekend … Tied her career high with 3 blocks.
Danyelle Williams logged 14 kills on 31 attempts, also adding a block.
Britt Bommer led the squad with 44 assists … She added a kill, ace, and seven digs.
Olivia Viscuso paced the 'Cats with five kills.
Michelle Lee and Sarah Johnson combined for 30 of NU's 59 digs … Lee had 16 and Johnson had 14.

MATCH NOTES:

S1 | The Wildcats got off to a blistering start, including a 10-2 advantage over the No. 16 Boilermakers in the early goings … The 'Cats staved off a late Purdue push to win, 25-22.
S2 | Northwestern's offense was unable to click in the second set as they lost, 25-13.
S3 | The 'Cats hit at their best single-set clip of the match (.270) and were paced by five kills by Danyelle Williams, but fell, 25-22.
S4 | Despite yeoman's service by Ella Grbac in the form of seven kills, NU was topped, 25-19.

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