Northwestern University Athletics

Wednesday, November 1
Champaign, Ill.
8 p.m. CT

Northwestern

at

Illinois

Volleyball Team Celebration
Photo by: Stephen Carrera/Northwestern Athletics

Northwestern, Illinois Set For Wednesday Night Tilt

10/31/2023 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Wildcats, Fighting Illini to meet live on Big Ten Network

EVANSTON, Ill. (October 31, 2023) – Northwestern (11-11, 5-7 B1G) begins a stretch that sees it play five of its next six matches away from home on Wednesday evening when it treks south down Interstate 59 to meet in-state foe Illinois.  The 8 p.m. matchup between the Wildcats and Fighting Illini from inside Huff Hall will be televised live on Big Ten Network.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Three Wildcats posted double-doubles as Northwestern surged to a five-set win, 3-2, over Indiana this past Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
 
Averie Hernandez led the attack, finishing with a career-high 21 kills and 14 digs, while Kennedy Hill was a force at the net, posting 12 kills and 11 blocks, both career-best marks.  Alexa Rousseau (53 assists, 11 digs) notched her eighth double-double in 10 matches, while Leilani Dodson pounded out a season-high 15 kills.
 
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois (12-10, 7-5 B1G) enters Wednesday's matchup with the 'Cats as one of the Big Ten's hottest teams, having won five straight matches, most recently knocking off No. 16 Purdue, 3-1, this past Saturday.
 
2022 All-Big Ten selection Raina Terry is in the midst of a dominant senior campaign, averaging 4.52 kills per set, a mark that ranks second in the league. Kayla Burbage (2.22 k/s) and Kennedy Collins (2.05 k/s) add two-plus kills per set, with Collins also contributing a team-best 1.19 blocks per set.
 
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Illinois will clash for the 96th time on Wednesday evening. The Fighting Illini lead the all-time series, 64-31 (.674), a mark that includes a 35-9 (.795) record in matches played in Champaign, Ill.
 
The two teams split the season series last year, with the home side recording a three-set sweep in both matchups. In the matchup at Huff Hall on September 24, 2022, Kathryn Randorf put up 11 kills, while Dodson tallied five blocks.
 
UP NEXT
Northwestern is back inside Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday, November 5 at 1 p.m. to battle Minnesota on Alumnae Day. 

Players Mentioned

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Volleyball - '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)
Monday, July 28