Volleyball Wraps Up Non-Conference Play at Chicago Cup

NORTHWESTERN VOLLEYBALL: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Friday, September 16	DePaul	4 p.m. CT	Flames Athletic Center Chicago, Ill.	N/A	Live Stats
Saturday, September 17	UIC	Noon CT	Flames Athletic Center Chicago, Ill.	ESPN+	Live Stats
Saturday, September 17	Loyola Chicago	5 p.m. CT	Flames Athletic Center Chicago, Ill.	N/A	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NU Vball \| Instagram: @nuvball

EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northwestern volleyball team plays its final weekend of non-conference competition at the Chicago Cup hosted by UIC this weekend. The Wildcats begin the weekend at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 16, against DePaul before taking on the host Flames at Noon CT on Saturday, Sept 17, and Loyola Chicago later in the day at 5 p.m. CT.

Northwestern improved its record to 8-1 after winning two of three matches last weekend at the Husky Invitational in Seattle. After defeating Cal Poly (3-1) and falling to No. 13 Washington (3-1), the Wildcats recorded their signature victory of the season by dismantling No. 24 Pepperdine, 3-0. It was NU's first win over a ranked opponent since 2019 against No. 24 Illinois and first away from Welsh-Ryan Arena since 2013 at No. 20 Purdue. For the second time in the Shane Davis era, the 'Cats have opened the season 8-1 (2017). The Wildcats received nine votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll. NU was last ranked at No. 24 in Week 6 of the 2014 season.

Senior Temi Thomas-Ailara leads the team averaging 3.45 kills per set, which ranks ninth in the Big Ten Conference. She has posted double-digit kills in seven of nine matches this season. Alexa Rousseau is sixth in the conference dishing out 9.94 assists per set, with her 308 total assists ranking second. Desiree Becker ranks 10th nationally and second in the Big Ten hitting .447 this year.

'Cat Facts

Northwestern is hitting .301 as a team, which leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally.
Last weekend against Cal Poly, Megan Miller recorded her 1,000th career dig. She posted a career-high 27 digs in just three sets in the upset win over No. 24 Pepperdine. It is the second-most digs in a three-set match in program history, trailing Kate Nobilio's 31 digs against Towson in 2007.
Thomas-Ailara's 1,151 career kills is the second-highest in the Big Ten among active student-athletes.
The Wildcats opened the season winning their first seven matches for only the fifth time in program history (2017, 2012, 1987, 1984).

The Wildcats are 19-8-1 all-time against DePaul and have won 16 of the last 17 meetings. Last season, the Blue Demons pulled out a 3-2 win in Evanston snapping Northwestern's 16 match win streak in the series. Thomas-Ailara led NU with 20 kills. DePaul is 3-6 this season and won all three of their matches at the DePaul Invitational last weekend against Virginia Tech (3-1), Eastern Michigan (3-1) and Saint Louis (3-1).

Northwestern holds a commanding 24-2 all-time record against the Flames, winning the last 14 matchups. UIC last defeated the Wildcats 3-2 on Sept. 16, 1995. Last season, Northwestern recorded a 3-1 victory in Evanston behind Thomas-Ailara's match-high 15 kills. UIC is 6-3 this season, and went 1-2 last weekend at UCF with a 3-1 win over Miami (Fla.).

The 'Cats are 17-5 in their series against the Ramblers. Thomas-Ailara led the way once again with 12 kills as NU picked up a 3-0 sweep last year. Loyola Chicago is 6-4 this season after sweeping its home tournament against St. Thomas (3-0), Kansas State (3-1) and Rutgers (3-1).

Big Ten play starts the following weekend for Northwestern as it travels to Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. CT and Illinois at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

Volleyball Wraps Up Non-Conference Play at Chicago Cup

Players Mentioned

Desiree Becker

Megan Miller

Alexa Rousseau

Temi Thomas-Ailara

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