Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
11-12,5-8Big Ten
Illinois
13-10,8-5Big Ten
Hernandez, Sangiacomo Lead Northwestern In Setback At Illinois, 3-0
11/1/2023 10:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Wildcats return home on Sunday at 1 p.m. for Alumnae Day
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (November 1, 2023) - Averie Hernandez and Julia Sangiacomo both reached double figures in kills as Northwestern (11-12, 5-8 B1G) dropped three razor-thin decisions in a 23-25, 22-25, 23-25 defeat to Illinois (13-10, 8-5 B1G) this evening inside Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Northwestern jumped in front early, with a block from Hernandez and Leilani Dodson staking the 'Cats to a 3-1 lead. Sangiacomo went over the block to break a 5-5 tie before a Gigi Navarrete service ace saw the visitors establish an 11-8 edge. After Illinois pushed in front, 13-12, a Hernandez kill sparked a 4-0 Wildcat run that vaulted Northwestern on top, 16-13, and forced a Fighting Illini timeout. Illinois counted with a run of its own later in the frame, rattling off three straight to go up, 20-19. That lead was short-lived, as Kennedy Hill elevated out of the middle for a kill that tied the set at 20-20. Following another Hernandez spike that forced a 23-23 stalemate, Illinois scored the final two points of the set to notch a 25-23 triumph.
SET 2 | The hosts stepped on the gas early in set two, scoring eight of the first nine points to race out to an 8-1 lead. Northwestern slowly chipped away, pulling back within four, 10-6, on a Hill slide kill. Back-to-back Dodson tallies trimmed the margin to 17-14. Northwestern mounted a 3-0 push, sparked by a Sangiacomo kill, to pull level at 20-20, but the Fighting Illini closed the frame with a 5-2 surge to close out a 25-22 win.
SET 3 | Alexa Rousseau capped off a long rally with a kill that gave the 'Cats an early 3-1 advantage in set three. Hernandez hammered off the block shortly after to push Northwestern back on top, 9-8. Illinois looked to distance itself as the set wore on, taking a 15-12 lead. The Wildcats refused to go down quietly. A tandem block from Maddy Chinn and Ellie Husemann sliced the deficit to 18-17 before a Drew Wright service ace tied the score at 19-19. Hernandez added two more kills, the second of which put the 'Cats up, 21-20. With Northwestern clinging to a 22-21 lead, Illinois again closed the set with a flurry, using a 4-1 push to wrap up the match, 25-23.
Game Notes
» Hernandez led the Northwestern attack for a fifth consecutive match, posting a team-high 12 kills.
» Hernandez has reached double figures in kills in nine of Northwestern's last 11 matches.
» Sangiacomo added 10 kills, her 14th match with 10-plus spikes this season.
» Just over 72 hours removed from a career-best showing on the offensive side of the net, Hill had an efficient night, putting up six kills while hitting .500 (6-1-10).
» Rousseau was credited with 30 assists, while both Ellee Stinson (17) and Navarrete (11) finished in double figures in digs.
» Raina Terry pelted a match-high 22 kills for Illinois.
Up Next
Northwestern is back in action on Sunday, November 5 when it hosts Minnesota at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Alumnae Day. First serve against the Golden Gophers is set for 1 p.m.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
