Northwestern
11-11,5-7Big Ten
Indiana
16-9,6-6Big Ten
Total Team Effort Leads Cardiac 'Cats Past Indiana, 3-2
10/29/2023 4:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Trio of Wildcats post double-double efforts in thrilling win
EVANSTON, Ill. (October 29, 2023) - Three Wildcats notched double-double efforts as Northwestern surged to a thrilling 25-23, 32-34, 21-25, 25-22, 15-10 win over visiting Indiana (16-9, 6-6 B1G) this afternoon inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Today's victory, Northwestern's second consecutive win in five sets, sees the Wildcats climb to 11-11 overall and 5-7 in Big Ten Conference play.
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— Northwestern Volleyball (@NUVball) October 29, 2023
How It Happened
SET 1 | Kathryn Randorf powered the Northwestern attack out of the gate, hammering her first kill to give the 'Cats a 2-0 lead. Averie Hernandez pelted an attempt down the line that pushed the edge to 15-12 before Indiana put up back-to-back points to close within one, 15-14. Kills on consecutive swings by Maddy Chinn bookended a Wildcat attack error, as Northwestern opened up a 19-16 lead. Indiana battled back, pulling even at 21-21 on a Camryn Haworth kill. With the score knotted at 23-23, Alexa Rousseau and Kennedy Hill joined up for a block that set Northwestern up with set point at 24-23. Randorf closed it out, connecting on her fourth kill of the opening frame to punctuate a 25-23 victory.
SET 2 | Northwestern and Indiana played a marathon second set that featured 14 ties and six lead changes. After seeing the visitors race out to a 5-0 lead, the 'Cats roared back, using a 6-0 run to charge in front, 9-7. A Rousseau kill pushed the lead to 12-10 ahead of Hernandez rising high to hammer of the block, stretching the margin to 15-12. Back-to-back tandem denials from Chinn and Hill gave Northwestern set point at 24-21, but Indiana refused to go away, scoring the next three points to pull even at 24-24. The two teams would each fight off multiple set points as part of a nerve-racking finish. Indiana proved to have the final push, notching the final two points of the frame to secure a 34-32 win and even the match at one set apiece.
SET 3 | Indiana looked to ride momentum from its win in the second set, jumping out to a 9-4 lead. Northwestern chipped away, with a Hernandez kill off the block tying the score at 10-10. Another Randorf spike kept the 'Cats within striking distance down the stretch, cutting Indiana's lead to 19-18, but Northwestern was unable to get over the hump as the Hoosiers wrapped up a 25-21 win to move in front in the match, 2-1.
SET 4 | Northwestern came out as the agressors in set four, taking an 8-4 lead following a Dodson service ace. The 'Cats ripped off four straight points shortly after, a run capped by kills from Hernandez and Dodson, respectively, to establish a 15-10 advantage. After a Dodson solo block made it 18-13, Indiana responded with the next three points, clawing back within two, 18-16. Hill drilled her career-best 11th kill of the afternoon to reestablish a two-point lead, 23-21, before another Dodson spike wrapped up a 25-22 set four triumph that forced a fifth set.
SET 5 | Feeding off the energy from its home crowd, Northwestern took control out of the gate in set five. Back-to-back kills from Hernandez powered a 4-0 surge that vaulted the 'Cats on top, 5-2. A block from Rousseau and Hill highlighted a stretch in which the Wildcats tallied three straight points to establish a 9-4 lead. Indiana got within two on a pair of separate occasions down the stretch, but Northwestern closed the show, with two more Hernandez kills sealing a 15-10 win in set five.
Game Notes
» Hernandez turned in a standout effort, finishing her night with 21 kills and 14 digs, both career highs, en route to her first career double-double.
» Hernandez has reached double figures in kills in eight of Northwestern's last 10 matches.
» Hill was a force out of the middle, operating at a red-hot .625 (12-2-16) clip on her way to a career day that featured 12 kills and 11 blocks.
» Hill's 10 block assists are tied for the fifth most in a five-set match in program history.
» Dodson posted a season-best showing offensively, hammering 15 kills.
» Chinn rounded out a quartet of Wildcats in double figures in kills with 10 spikes, in addition to seven digs and four blocks.
» Rousseau flirted with a triple-double, finishing with a season-best 53 assists, 11 digs, and eight kills.
» Rousseau, who also served up two aces, has turned in double-doubles in eight of her last 10 appearances.
» Ellee Stinson finished with a team-high 17 digs, leading a group of four 'Cats in double figures in the category.
» Candela Alonso-Corcelles paced Indiana with 16 kills.
Up Next
Northwestern heads south down Interstate 57 for a midweek tilt with Illinois on Wednesday, November 1 that will be televised live on Big Ten Network. First serve from inside Huff Hall is scheduled for 8 p.m.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
