Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
14-15,8-11Big Ten
Iowa
8-23,0-19Big Ten
Wildcats Ground Hawkeyes, 3-0
11/24/2023 11:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Trio of ‘Cats finish in double figures in kills in victory
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 24, 2023) - 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.
Tonight's victory sees the Wildcats improve to 14-15 overall and 8-11 in Big Ten Conference action. Northwestern's eight conference victories are its most in a season since the 2013 campaign.
????-?????? ???????? ????#GoCats | @B1GVolleyball pic.twitter.com/cQzSxPj2DD
— 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. Kills from Hernandez and Leilani Dodson, respectively, bookended a Hawkeye ball handling error as Northwestern opened up an 18-13 advantage. 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. 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. With the lead sitting at 16-13, consecutive Iowa attack errors sparked a set-ending 9-1 run for Northwestern. 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. 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. Iowa refused to let Northwestern pull away, as it rattled off three straight points to even up the set at 17-17. 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. 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
» Sangiacomo and Hernandez led the Northwestern attack on the evening, finishing with 13 kills apiece.
» Sangiacomo, who is averaging a team-high 4.04 kills per set in 2023, has reached double figures in kills in 20 matches.
» Currently averaging 2.90 kills per set since the start of Big Ten Conference play, Hernandez surpassed the 10-kill mark for the seventh time in eight matches.
» Chinn hit a scintillating .438 (10-3-16) en route to closing her night with 10 kills.
» Ellee Stinson piled up 22 digs in the victory, her eighth match this season with 20-plus digs.
» Rousseau accumulated 38 assists, her most in a three-set match in 2023.
» Hill led the 'Cats with three blocks.
» 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. 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.
