Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, November 30
Welsh-Ryan Arena
7 p.m.
Northwestern
13-16,4-13Big Ten
3
vs
1
Illinois
15-13,10-9Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Illinois
18
25
18
20
1
Northwestern
25
20
25
25
3
Northwestern Upsets #24 Illinois on Senior Night
11/30/2019 9:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, IL – For the first time since November 5, 2014, Northwestern defeated #24 Illinois 3-1 to cap off the 2019 season.
The Wildcats started fast, taking the first set 25-18, outhitting Illinois .303 to a .108 clip.
The Wildcats were led by junior Nia Robinson and first-year Temi Thomas-Ailara who combined for 39 kills on the night to outhit the Fighting Illini 65-54 with Robinson reaching 369 kills for the season and Thomas-Ailara notching 389.
Illinois took the early lead in set two and despite the 'Cats best effort, UI took set two 25-20. NU rebounded quickly, outhitting Illinois 19-10 to take the third set, 25-18.
Sophomore Ella Grbac and first-year Desiree Becker each added four blocks to NU's total, marking the four game in a row where the duo has had multiple blocks.
Despite a late Illinois surge, Chicago's Big Ten Team was able to hold off their Big Ten foe and defeat them in front of a Welsh-Ryan senior night crowd. The Wildcats close out the season with a 14-18 record, closing out Big Ten play on a 4-2 run.
Northwestern graduates seniors Payton Chang, Olivia Viscuso, Allie Lindroth, Emily Ehman and Sarah Johnson.
The Wildcats started fast, taking the first set 25-18, outhitting Illinois .303 to a .108 clip.
The Wildcats were led by junior Nia Robinson and first-year Temi Thomas-Ailara who combined for 39 kills on the night to outhit the Fighting Illini 65-54 with Robinson reaching 369 kills for the season and Thomas-Ailara notching 389.
Illinois took the early lead in set two and despite the 'Cats best effort, UI took set two 25-20. NU rebounded quickly, outhitting Illinois 19-10 to take the third set, 25-18.
Sophomore Ella Grbac and first-year Desiree Becker each added four blocks to NU's total, marking the four game in a row where the duo has had multiple blocks.
Despite a late Illinois surge, Chicago's Big Ten Team was able to hold off their Big Ten foe and defeat them in front of a Welsh-Ryan senior night crowd. The Wildcats close out the season with a 14-18 record, closing out Big Ten play on a 4-2 run.
Northwestern graduates seniors Payton Chang, Olivia Viscuso, Allie Lindroth, Emily Ehman and Sarah Johnson.
Team Stats
Illini
NU
Kills
54
65
Errors
21
12
Attempts
142
141
Hitting %
.232
.376
Points
62
74.5
Assists
49
59
Aces
4
2
Blocks
4
7.5
Game Leaders
Kills
22
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballVolleyball - 'Cats Outlast Michigan in Five-Set Thriller (10/16/25)
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Sunday, September 21
Volleyball - 'Cats Defeat Valparaiso in Home Opener Reverse Sweep (9/9/2025)
Wednesday, September 10
Volleyball - Tim Nollan, Sienna Noordemeer, and Ayah Elnady at Big Ten Media Days (7/28/25)
Monday, July 28
