Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
14-15,8-11Big Ten
Iowa
8-23,0-19Big Ten
Wildcats Ground Hawkeyes, 3-0
11/24/2023 11:03:00β―PM | Women's Volleyball
Trio of βCats finish in double figures in kills in victory
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 24, 2023)Β -Β Julia Sangiacomo, Averie Hernandez, and Maddy Chinn all posted double-figure efforts in kills as Northwestern downed Iowa (8-23, 0-19 B1G) in a 25-23, 25-14, 25-23 sweep this evening inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.Β
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Tonight's victory sees the Wildcats improve to 14-15 overall and 8-11 in Big Ten Conference action.Β Northwestern's eight conference victories are its most in a season since the 2013 campaign.
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β Northwestern Volleyball (@NUVball) November 25, 2023
How It Happened
SET 1 | With the Wildcats staring at an early 8-6 deficit in set one, Northwestern took off on a 6-1 run, a charge capped off by a Kennedy Hill kill that staked the 'Cats to a 12-9 edge.Β Kills from Hernandez and Leilani Dodson, respectively, bookended a Hawkeye ball handling error as Northwestern opened up an 18-13 advantage.Β Iowa battled back, closing within one at 21-20, but the visitors would be unable to pull level, with a Sangiacomo kill capping off a 25-23 victory in the opening frame.
SET 2 | Northwestern stepped on the accelerator almost immediately in set two.Β A solo block from Chinn quickly saw the Wildcats take a 4-1 lead ahead of a Hill solo denial that capped off a 3-0 spurt and made it 14-7 in favor of the hosts.Β With the lead sitting at 16-13, consecutive Iowa attack errors sparked a set-ending 9-1 run for Northwestern.Β Following two Sangiacomo service aces that brought the lead to 23-14, Natalie Chizzo put an exclamation point on the set with a service ace of her own to close out a dominant 25-14 showing.
SET 3 | Looking to carry over momentum from its finish in the second set, Northwestern again started fast to begin the third frame.Β Alexa Rousseau drilled an overpass to give the 'Cats a 7-4 lead before Hernandez connected for kills on back-to-back swings to establish a 10-5 margin.Β Iowa refused to let Northwestern pull away, as it rattled off three straight points to even up the set at 17-17.Β Hernandez went back to work, tallying kills on consecutive swings to reestablish a three-point lead, 20-17, but the Hawkeyes responded, roaring back to tie the frame at 20-20.Β With the two teams deadlocked at 23-23, Sangiacomo closed the show, putting down the final two kills of the night to wrap up the match in a 25-23 win.
Game Notes
Β» Sangiacomo and Hernandez led the Northwestern attack on the evening, finishing with 13 kills apiece.
Β Β Β Β Β» Sangiacomo, who is averaging a team-high 4.04Β kills per set in 2023, has reached double figures in kills in 20 matches.
Β Β Β Β Β» Currently averaging 2.90Β kills per set since the start of Big Ten Conference play, Hernandez surpassed the 10-kill mark for the seventh time in eight matches.
Β» Chinn hit a scintillating .438 (10-3-16) en route to closing her night with 10 kills.
Β» Ellee Stinson piled up 22 digs in the victory, her eighth match this season with 20-plus digs.
Β» Rousseau accumulated 38 assists, her most in a three-set match in 2023.
Β» Hill led the 'Cats with three blocks.
Β» Nataly Moravec finished with 11 kills to pace Iowa.
Up Next
Northwestern wraps up the 2023 season on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. when it hosts in-state rival Illinois.Β The Wildcats will honor their senior class in a special ceremony following the matchup with the Fighting Illini.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
