Saturday, November 27
East Lansing, Mich.
7 pm CT
Northwestern
12-19,7-13Big Ten
3
at
2
Michigan State
11-18,4-16Big Ten
1
2
3
4
5
F
Northwestern
16
28
26
15
15
3
Michigan St.
25
26
24
25
13
2
Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras
'Cats Take Five Set Thriller Over MSU To Close Out Season
11/27/2021 9:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Northwestern battled back from an early deficit to take a five-set thriller at Michigan State and earn its seventh Big Ten win of the season to close out the Wildcats' 2021 campaign.
Alexa Rousseau recorded a career-high 14 kills on an outstanding .542 clip to go along with a team-high 44 assists and six digs. Temi Thomas-Ailara chipped in with a team-high 18 kills.
Also finishing in double figure kills for the 'Cats was Hanna Lesiak, who notched her sixth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs, her most in a conference match this season.
First-year Ellee Stinson led all players on the court with a career-high 17 digs.
After dropping the first set by nine, Northwestern battled back to take set two, 28-26, followed by another close victory in set three. The Spartans forced a fifth set, but it was Northwestern that came out on top in a highly competitive fifth set, taking the final frame 15-13 while posting a .412 clip as a team.
Alexa Rousseau recorded a career-high 14 kills on an outstanding .542 clip to go along with a team-high 44 assists and six digs. Temi Thomas-Ailara chipped in with a team-high 18 kills.
'CATS TAKE SET FIVE! ??
— Northwestern Volleyball (@NUVball) November 28, 2021
Rousseau closes it out for the win!#GoCats pic.twitter.com/9xc7s04USx
Also finishing in double figure kills for the 'Cats was Hanna Lesiak, who notched her sixth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs, her most in a conference match this season.
First-year Ellee Stinson led all players on the court with a career-high 17 digs.
We're ???????? in East Lansing. ??
— Northwestern On BTN (@NUOnBTN) November 28, 2021
CC: @NUVball pic.twitter.com/dRdmOs8EYQ
After dropping the first set by nine, Northwestern battled back to take set two, 28-26, followed by another close victory in set three. The Spartans forced a fifth set, but it was Northwestern that came out on top in a highly competitive fifth set, taking the final frame 15-13 while posting a .412 clip as a team.
'Cats strike again ... Set 3 to @NUVball! ?? pic.twitter.com/6q7oexzmg5
— Northwestern On BTN (@NUOnBTN) November 28, 2021
Team Stats
NU
MSU
Kills
68
66
Errors
24
18
Attempts
158
149
Hitting %
.278
.322
Points
76
85
Assists
64
65
Aces
3
7
Blocks
5
12
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/Libero
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballVolleyball - Wildcats Sweep Campbell to Close Non-Conference Play (9/20/2025)
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
Volleyball - 'Cats Down Hawkeyes 3-1 To Secure Season Sweep (11/10/24)
Monday, November 11
