Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
11-13,5-9Big Ten
Minnesota
12-10,8-6Big Ten
Minnesota Fends Off Northwestern, 3-1
11/5/2023 4:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Sangiacomo paces trio in double figures with 16 kills
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 5, 2023) - Julia Sangiacomo racked up a team-high 16 kills, leading a group of three Wildcats in double figures, as Northwestern (11-13, 5-9 B1G) fell by a 27-25, 23-25, 21-25, 23-25 final to visiting Minnesota (12-10, 8-6 B1G) this afternoon inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Leilani Dodson came out swinging in set one, putting up three early kills, the last of which knotted the score up at 6-6. Averie Hernandez hammered three kills of her own as part of a 5-0 Wildcat run that saw Northwestern charge in front, 10-6. Minnesota answered with four straight points, pulling even at 10-10. After seeing the visitors take the lead, a Julia Sangiacomo kill capped off a wild rally and sparked a 3-0 push that sent Northwestern back on top, 18-17. The two teams remained tight down the stretch, with Minnesota fending off a pair of set points, before a Lauren Carter service ace sealed the deal in set one and secured the 'Cats a 27-25 victory.
SET 2 | Minnesota started fast in the second frame, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. Drew Wright came delivered from the service line, notching her first ace of the day to bring Northwestern level at 4-4. Kills from Sangiacomo and Hernandez, respectively, gave the hosts a 9-7 lead, but Minnesota responded, rattling off four consecutive points to go up, 11-9, and force a Northwestern timeout. Staring at a 14-10 deficit, the Wildcats battled back, taking a 16-15 edge on another Sangiacomo spike. Minnesota counted with another 4-0 push, opening up a 19-16 lead. Northwestern battled back within one on six different occasions, but was unable to complete its comeback in a 25-23 defeat.
SET 3 | Kennedy Hill elevated out of the middle to record a solo block that staked Northwestern to a 2-1 lead in the opening moments of the third set. Sangiacomo's 10th kill of the afternoon put the 'Cats up one, 7-6, before back-to-back Hernandez kills erased a two-point Minnesota lead and tied the score at 15-15. An Alexa Rousseau dump kill forced another deadlock, 20-20. Minnesota closed the set by scoring five of the final six points to close out a 25-21 victory.
SET 4 | A Sangiacomo service ace tied the score up at 5-5 early in set four. Minnesota looked to build breathing room, opening a 17-11 lead on three straight kills from Taylor Landfair. Northwestern refused to go away, with a Dodson kill sparking a 5-0 run that featured two Rousseau kills as the Wildcats clawed back within one, 17-16. After Minnesota reestablished a four-point lead, 20-16, Northwestern roared back with six of the next seven points, taking a 22-21 lead following a Golden Gophers' attack error. With the Wildcats clinging to a 23-22 edge, Minnesota tallied the final three points of the afternoon, wrapping up a 25-23 win on a Julia Hanson service ace to close out the match.
Game Notes
» Sangiacomo closed her afternoon with 16 kills, her 15th match in double figures this season.
» Dodson hit .407 (13-2-27) on her way to finishing with 13 kills and a career-high tying five digs.
» Hernandez continued her steady play of late, reaching double figures for the 10th time in 12 matches with 11 kills.
» Hill finished with a team-best six blocks, while also hitting a red-hot .625 (5-0-8) as she added five kills.
» Rousseau, who chipped in five kills, closed her day with 47 assists, her top total for a four-set match in 2023.
» Ellee Stinson cleared the 20-dig plateau for the sixth time this season, piling up a match-high 25 digs.
» Wright and Gigi Navarrete joined Stinson in double figures in the category, each posting 10 digs apiece.
» Landfair led Minnesota with a match-high 25 kills.
Up Next
Northwestern begins a four-match road swing on Wednesday, November 8 when it takes on No. 1 Nebraska in a 7 p.m. first serve inside the Devaney Center.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
