Wildcats Return Home For Pair of Conference Matches

Wednesday, October 20

Evanston, Ill.

7 p.m. CT

Northwestern

Illinois

Wildcats Return Home For Pair of Conference Matches

10/19/2021 4:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

NORTHWESTERN VOLLEYBALL: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	Opponent	TIME	LOCATION	Streaming	Live Stats
Wednesday, Oct. 20	Illinois	7 pm CT	Welsh-Ryan Arena	B1G+	Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 23	Iowa	7 pm CT	Welsh-Ryan Arena	B1G+	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUVBall Instagram: @NUVBall

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern welcomes two conference foes to Welsh-Ryan Arena this week in clashes with Illinois and Iowa.

The Wildcats take on the Fighting Illini on Wednesday and the Hawkeyes on Saturday with start time scheduled for 7 p.m. each day. They met both teams on the road earlier this season, going 1-1 in those contests.

Chicago's Big Ten Team took Illinois to five sets last month after a formidable win in the fourth set capped off by a 7-2 run and a Charlotte Cronister ace to secure the 25th point. Temi Thomas-Ailara led the way with 19 kills while Hanna Lesiak and Leilani Dodson also recorded double digit kills. Thomas-Ailara has reached double digit kills in 22 consecutive matches, a streak that dates back to last march.

The last time Illinois came to Evanston, the 'Cats prevailed in four sets against the then-No. 24 Illini in the final match of the 2019 season. Thomas-Ailara landed 17 kills in that match to put the bow on her historic rookie season.

When Northwestern and Iowa take the floor Saturday it will have only been a week since the 'Cats swept the Hawkeyes 3-0 in Iowa City last weekend. It marked Northwestern's second sweep of a conference opponent this season, having taken down Rutgers in three sets October 1.

If the Wildcats sweep Iowa again this week, it would mark the second-straight season that Northwestern has won six out of six sets against one opponent, a feat the program last accomplished over the 2010-11 seasons. The 'Cats swept Rutgers twice to begin last season.