Wildcats Sweep Opening Weekend, 3-0

OXFORD, OH – Northwestern extended their record to 3-0 to kick off the 2019 season after defeating Virginia Tech (3-0) and Miami (3-1) Saturday evening at the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational.
 
Next week, the Wildcats will host Texas Tech, Stephen F. Austin and Austin Peay State at the 2019 NU Under Armour Challenge at Welsh-Ryan Arena beginning on September 6 at 11 am.
 
OF NOTE:
 
Team Notes…

• Three Wildcats were named to the All-Tournament team including Temi Thomas-Ailara, Olivia Viscuso and Nia Robinson who also also named tournament MVP.
• The Wildcats have won 9 out of 10 sets to start the 2019 season…  
• The 'Cats move to 2-0 all time against Virginia Tech…. NU is also 2-0 all time against Miami (Ohio)
• For the second consecutive season, the Wildcats have started the season on a 3-0 run…  

 
Against Virginia Tech…
 

• Junior Nia Robinson led the 'Cats with a game high 14 kills to help NU outhit Virginia Tech 47-24
• Senior Payton Chang led with a game high 34 digs… her second consecutive 30+ assist game
• The 'Cats had five players with at least five kills including Robinson (14), senior Olivia Viscuso (8), junior Alana Walker (7), first-year Temi Thomas-Ailara (7) and sophomore Ella Grbac (5)
• NU had two player with double digit digs including junior Lexi Pitsas (17) and Chang (10)

 
Against Miami (OH)…

• Robinson had her third consecutive double digit game with a season high 19 kills against the RedHawks 
• Walker had a game high eight of the Wildcats 13 blocks… the 'Cats out blocked the Miami 13-9
• Chang had a career high 52 assists… the senior had double digit assists for the third consecutive game
• Pitsas led with a game high 22 digs followed by Chang (15) and first-year Charlotte Cronister (12)
•  The 'Cats had three players with double-digit kills including Robinson (19), Viscuso (14) and Walker (13)…
• Viscuso hit a game high .737 clip with 14 kills on 19 attempts for a new career high hitting percentage….