'Cats Visit Coralville for Rematch With Hawkeyes

CORALVILLE, Iowa - Northwestern volleyball hits the road for the first of three straight matches away from Evanston as they travel to Coralville for a rematch with the Iowa Hawkeyes. After beating Iowa 3-1 on Oct. 16 in Welsh-Ryan, the two teams will match up for the second and final time on Sunday afternoon. First serve between the Wildcats (4-17, 2-11 B1G) and the Hawkeyes (9-16, 3-10 B1G) is set for 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.

STORYLINES:

Junior Rylen Reid reached double digits in kills for the third time in her career and the second time in her last three games on Friday against Penn State. Her 12 kills tied her career high, and she also matched her career marks in total attacks (37) and digs (7). Prior to this year, the outside hitter had never logged more than 18 kills in a season, and now her 131 so far this year ranks fourth on the 'Cats' roster.
Kennedy Hill had it all working against the Nittany Lions, contributing six blocks and a career-high three aces in four sets against Penn State. With that performance included, the junior has now contributed six or more blocks in three of the 'Cats' last seven matches and eight matches overall this season.
Last time out, the 'Cats took a set off of the No. 3 team in the country on Friday, when they won set one 25-23 against Penn State. It was Northwestern's second set victory against a top-ten opponent this season, joining their set-one win against No. 10 Purdue on Oct. 4. Northwestern used nine aces, 67 digs, and 48 kills in that match - all of which rank second for single-match totals this season - to challenge Penn State all the way.

THE MATCH-UP:

Northwestern leads the all-time series 51-33-1 against Iowa after winning each of the last seven. The last time the Hawkeyes came out on top of a meeting with the 'Cats was Feb. 26, 2021, during the COVID-delayed 2020 season.

At 3-10 in Big Ten play, Iowa sits just about Northwestern in the conference standings. Their conference victories have come against Maryland and Rutgers, who they've beaten twice. Since the 'Cats last saw them, the Hawkeyes have gone 0-6, dropping matches to Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State as well as ranked Oregon, Wisconsin and Penn State.

UP NEXT:

This match is the first of three straight on the road for the Wildcats, who will head west at the end of this week for their inaugural road trip to new Big Ten members Washington and Oregon. The 'Cats will visit the Ducks on Friday at 8 p.m. CT, then head to Seattle for a Sunday meeting with the Huskies at 4 p.m. CT.

'Cats Visit Coralville for Rematch With Hawkeyes

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kennedy Hill

Rylen Reid

Northwestern University Athletics