Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, October 18
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Nebraska
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Open Homestand Wednesday Against No. 2 Nebraska
10/17/2023 11:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Northwestern dropped five-set thriller to Cornhuskers last season in Evanston
EVANSTON, Ill. (October 17, 2023) – Northwestern (9-9, 3-5 B1G) returns home on Wednesday evening when it begins a two-match homestand against No. 2 Nebraska. First serve between the Wildcats and Cornhuskers is set for 7 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern split two matches over the weekend, defeating Maryland by a 3-1 final at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday before dropping a five-set decision, 3-2, to No. 24 Minnesota Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, Minn.
Julia Sangiacomo paced the 'Cats across the two-match stretch, surpassing the 20-kill mark in both outings as she averaged 5.67 kills per set. Leilani Dodson posted 10 kills against the Terrapins, while Averie Hernandez hammered 14 kills in the weekend finale against the Golden Gophers. Alexa Rousseau posted back-to-back double-double efforts, extending her streak in the category to six, as she moved to sixth all-time in Northwestern annals in career assists on Sunday afternoon.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
One of the nation's two remaining unbeatens, Nebraska, currently ranked second in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex Coaches Poll, arrives in Evanston at 17-0 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Big Ten Conference play. The Cornhuskers are coming off a dominant three-set sweep of then No. 13 Penn State this past Saturday inside the Devaney Center.
Three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year John Cook leans on the pairing of Merritt Beason (3.56 k/s) and Harper Murray (3.41 k/s) to lead the attack, which is fueled by 10.37 assists per set from Bergen Reilly. Reigning Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week Lexi Rodriguez averages 3.58 digs per set, while Bekka Allick (1.43 b/s) and Andi Jackson (1.16 b/s) each average north of a block per set.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Nebraska will meet for the 20th time on Wednesday evening. The Cornhuskers lead the all-time series, 18-1 (.947), having won each of the last 14 meetings between the two programs.
The 'Cats gave then No. 4 Nebraska all it could handle when the two teams met back on November 6, 2022 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, winning two of the three first sets as it ultimately dropped a tightly-contested 3-2 decision.
UP NEXT
Northwestern closes out its brief two-match homestand on Saturday, October 21 at 7 p.m. against Michigan.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern split two matches over the weekend, defeating Maryland by a 3-1 final at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday before dropping a five-set decision, 3-2, to No. 24 Minnesota Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, Minn.
Julia Sangiacomo paced the 'Cats across the two-match stretch, surpassing the 20-kill mark in both outings as she averaged 5.67 kills per set. Leilani Dodson posted 10 kills against the Terrapins, while Averie Hernandez hammered 14 kills in the weekend finale against the Golden Gophers. Alexa Rousseau posted back-to-back double-double efforts, extending her streak in the category to six, as she moved to sixth all-time in Northwestern annals in career assists on Sunday afternoon.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
One of the nation's two remaining unbeatens, Nebraska, currently ranked second in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex Coaches Poll, arrives in Evanston at 17-0 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Big Ten Conference play. The Cornhuskers are coming off a dominant three-set sweep of then No. 13 Penn State this past Saturday inside the Devaney Center.
Three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year John Cook leans on the pairing of Merritt Beason (3.56 k/s) and Harper Murray (3.41 k/s) to lead the attack, which is fueled by 10.37 assists per set from Bergen Reilly. Reigning Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week Lexi Rodriguez averages 3.58 digs per set, while Bekka Allick (1.43 b/s) and Andi Jackson (1.16 b/s) each average north of a block per set.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Nebraska will meet for the 20th time on Wednesday evening. The Cornhuskers lead the all-time series, 18-1 (.947), having won each of the last 14 meetings between the two programs.
The 'Cats gave then No. 4 Nebraska all it could handle when the two teams met back on November 6, 2022 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, winning two of the three first sets as it ultimately dropped a tightly-contested 3-2 decision.
UP NEXT
Northwestern closes out its brief two-match homestand on Saturday, October 21 at 7 p.m. against Michigan.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballVolleyball - 'Cats Outlast Michigan in Five-Set Thriller (10/16/25)
Friday, October 17
Volleyball - 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)
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