Northwestern
9-9,3-5Big Ten
Minnesota
8-8,4-4Big Ten
No. 24 Minnesota Holds Off Northwestern, 3-2
10/15/2023 3:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Sangiacomo, Hernandez reach double figures in kills to lead 'Cats
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (October 15, 2023) - Northwestern pushed No. 24 Minnesota (8-8, 4-4 B1G) to the brink, but the Golden Gophers rallied back for a 25-14, 16-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-12 victory over the Wildcats this afternoon inside Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn.
Today's result from the Twin Cities sees Northwestern drop to 9-9 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten Conference play.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Julia Sangiacomo notched kills on each of her first two swings of the afternoon, the second of which gave Northwestern a 4-2 lead. Following a Leilani Dodson kill that put the 'Cats on top, 5-4, Minnesota ripped off five unanswered points, opening up a 9-5 lead. After closing back within three, 11-8, on a tandem block by Kennedy Hill and Averie Hernandez, Minnesota took control of the frame for good with a 6-0 run to stretch its lead to 17-8 on the way to a 25-14 win.
SET 2 | Northwestern found itself in another early hole to begin set two, staring down an 11-6 deficit. With the score sitting at 14-10, an Alexa Rousseau kill sparked a 14-0 Wildcat tear. The first of three Sangiacomo service aces during the run knotted the score up at 14-14 before Northwestern took a 15-14 lead on a Hernandez spike. A tandem block by Dodson and Rousseau stretched the gap to 18-14 ahead of a solo block by Hernandez saw that saw the lead move to 23-14. Rousseau's third kill of the frame put the exclamation point on a 25-16 Northwestern victory in the second set.
SET 3 | Minnesota raced out of the gate in set three, scoring nine of the first 10 points en route to taking a 9-1 lead. Slowly but surely, Northwestern chipped away at its deficit. The 'Cats mounted a pair of 3-0 spurts, the second of which featured a pair of Sangiacomo kills as the visitors closed back within four, 17-13. Following a Wildcat service error that pushed the gap to 18-13, a Kathryn Randorf kill opened an 8-0 run, fueled by five kills from Sangiacomo, that vaulted the 'Cats on top, 21-18. The two teams traded runs down the stretch, with back-to-back Hernandez kills capping off a 3-0 push that set Northwestern up with set point at 24-22. Minnesota answered with the next three, setting up a set point of its own at 25-24, but the Wildcats had the final say, scoring the last three points of the frame, with a Lauren Carter service ace closing out a 27-25 triumph that gave Northwestern a 2-1 lead in the match.
SET 4 | Northwestern looked to take control early in set four. Kills from Sangiacomo, Hernandez, and Dodson put the 'Cats up three, 7-4. Hill elevated out of the middle shortly after, reestablishing a three-point lead, 13-10. Minnesota responded with the next five, taking its first lead since the opening moments of the set, 15-13. Sangiacomo snapped the run, hammering a free ball to trim the lead to 15-14. An Ellee Stinson service ace again brought the 'Cats within one, 22-21, but Northwestern would get no closer as Minnesota forced a deciding fifth set with a 25-22 win.
SET 5 | The 'Cats were forced to battle from behind to begin the fifth set, falling into a 6-2 hole. Kills from Hill and Sangiacomo, respectively, highlighted a 3-0 run that brought Northwestern back within one, 9-8. Sangiacomo and Dodson joined forces on the block minutes later, knotting the score up at 10-10. Another Sangiacomo kill evened it up at 11-11, but Minnesota finished with a flurry, scoring four of the afternoon's final five points to secure a 15-12 victory.
Game Notes
» Sangiacomo surpassed the 20-kill mark for the fifth time in 2023, putting up a match-high 24 kills.
» Sangiacomo, who also chipped in three service aces, matched a season-high with 12 digs to record her second double-double in as many matches.
» Hernandez operated at a .286 (14-6-28) clip as she added 14 kills
» Hernandez has reached double figures in kills in five of her last six outings.
» Rousseau continued her climb up the program's assists leaderboard, moving to sixth all-time in Wildcat annals after dishing out 43 helpers.
» Rousseau also contributed a career-high 22 digs en route to a sixth straight double-double performance.
» Dodson put up a team-best five blocks in addition to nine kills.
» Stinson added 17 digs, her 12th match with 15-plus digs this season.
» Drew Wright rounded out a quartet of Wildcats to finish in double figures in digs with a career-best 13 digs.
» Taylor Landfair led a trio of Golden Gophers in double figures with 15 kills.
Up Next
Northwestern returns home for a pair of matches in the coming week, a stretch that begins when No. 2 Nebraska visits Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday, October 18 at 7 p.m.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
