Northwestern
0-0,0-0Big Ten
Hawai'i
0-0,0-0Big West
Hawai'i Outlasts Northwestern In Five-Set Thriller, 3-2
8/26/2023 3:57:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sangiacomo, Dodson pace 'Cats in valiant effort
HONOLULU, Hawai'i (August 25, 2023) - Northwestern (0-1) gave host Hawai'i (1-0) all it could handle this evening, dropping a 25-18, 18-25, 25-22, 21-25, 7-15 decision to the Rainbow Wahine on the opening night of the 2023 Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic inside SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Julia Sangiacomo ripped a team-best 17 kills to pace the Wildcats on the offensive side, while Leilani Dodson also reached double figures in kills, adding 12 spikes of her own in addition to a career-high tying eight blocks.
Game Notes
» Northwestern had four players in double figures in digs.
» Sangiacomo registered a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs.
» Northwestern got a match-high 25 digs from Ellee Stinson.
» Wildcat attackers were helped by a team-high 34 assists from Alexa Rousseau, who also registered 15 digs.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Northwestern took control of the night's opening set from the onset, jumping out to a 3-2 lead on a Maddy Chinn kill off the block. Sangiacomo spurred on the 'Cats in the opening frame, with her sixth kill of the evening stretching the lead to 15-11. Hawai'i rallied to pull back within one at 16-15, but Sangiacomo provided the response, going over the block to reestablish a three-point edge, 18-15, en route to a 25-18 first set win for the Wildcats.
SET 2 | After taking an early 2-1 edge on a Dodson kill, Northwestern quickly found itself chasing the second set, falling into a 12-4 hole following a 6-0 Rainbow Wahine surge. Rousseau looked to help mount a comeback from the service line, delivering an ace that trimmed the gap to 21-18, before Hawai'i answered with the set's final four points to close out a 25-18 triumph that evened the match at a set apiece.
SET 3 | The third set proved to be a frame of spurts, with both teams mounting runs in an effort to seize control. Northwestern countered a 4-0 Hawai'i run with four unanswered points of its own, taking a 12-10 lead as part of a push that included kills from Dodson and Sangiacomo, respectively. After seeing Hawai'i regain the lead, 19-18, kills from Sangiacomo and Rousseau laid the foundation for another 4-0 push that propelled the 'Cats on top for good, 22-19, with Dodson's third kill of the frame sewing up a 25-22 win that put Northwestern on the brink.
SET 4 | Dodson was back in the mix again in the fourth set, cashing in on an overpass to put Northwestern in front, 12-11. Hawai'i countered with the set's next five points to open up a 16-12 edge. A Dodson solo block clawed the Wildcats back to within three, 24-21, before an Amber Igiebe kill forced a deciding fifth set as the Rainbow Wahine picked up a 25-21 triumph.
SET 5 | Hawai'i started fast in the night's final set, racing out a 4-1 lead that prompted a Northwestern timeout. Three consecutive Rainbow Wahine mishits opened the door for a rally, as the 'Cats found themselves down one, 7-6. Following a Rylen Reid kill that cut Hawai'i's lead to 9-7, the hosts slammed the door shut, rattling off the final six points of the set to secure a 15-7 victory.
Up Next
Northwestern continues its stay at the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic on Saturday, August 26 when it battles No. 9 Oregon at 9:45 p.m. (CT).
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
