Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, October 26
Bloomington, Ind.
12 p.m. CT
Northwestern
0
at
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Indiana
Photo by: Michelle Nartey/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Drop Road Contest to No. 23 Indiana
10/26/2025 1:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Northwestern volleyball fought hard but came up short in three sets (17-25, 21-25, 24-26) against No. 23 Indiana on Sunday afternoon at Wilkinson Hall.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to 13-9 on the season and 3-7 in Big Ten play, while Indiana improved to 16-4 and 7-3 in conference action.
Bella Bullington had an incredible outing, finishing with a match-high 18 kills on .556 hitting to go along with two blocks and two digs. Ayah Elnady led the way on the defensive end, coming up with nine digs in addition to her nine kills.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Wildcats struck first, getting on the board with a kill from Campbell Paris, but Indiana responded immediately. The Hoosiers' early dominance forced a Northwestern timeout, and though the 'Cats found life on three quick kills from Bullington, Indiana grew the lead to as many as eight points midway through the set. Northwestern pieced together a 6-0 run late to bring the score to 17-18, but in the end, the Hoosiers were able to finish out the set on a scoring run of their own, securing the victory at 25-17. Bullington finished with six kills on a blistering .750 hitting percentage in the opening set.
SET 2 | The second set was closely contested through the first stretch of play, with both teams trading points. A service ace from Sienna Noordermeer tied the score up at 4-4, and back-to-back blocks from Paris and Kayla Kauffman tied the score up at 9-9. Indiana found some momentum of their own to take the lead going into the media timeout, but a kill from Bella Simkus kept the score within two. A service ace from Lauren Carter cut the Hoosier lead to just one, but Indiana was again able to pull away late to take the second set 25-21.
SET 3 | The 'Cats came out hot in the third set, jumping out to a quick 4-1 lead. A series of Indiana kills allowed the Hoosiers to take the lead back, 6-5, but another ace from Carter brought the score within one, at 9-8. Indiana held the lead through the middle stages of the set, but the 'Cats kept it close until a service ace from Hazan drew the two teams even at 17-17. Gigi Navarrete joined the party from there, getting an ace of her own to give the 'Cats a late lead, 19-18. The end of the third set was tight, with a block from Bullington and Gabrielle Gerry pushing the Wildcats to set point at 24-23. The Hoosiers fought back to tie the set at 24-24, however, and a service ace allowed them to take the one-point lead. Northwestern dropped a heart-breaker in the end, losing the third set 26-24.
Game Notes
- Bella Bullington had a team and match-high 18 kills for Northwestern, which tied for the most by a Northwestern attacker in a match this season. It also served as the sixth time this season that the first-year led the Wildcat offense in a match.
- Bullington has now hit better than .500 in a match where she also recorded five or more kills for the fifth time this season. If the season ended today, her .275 hitting percentage this year would be the third best by a Northwestern first-year in program history.
- Both Northwestern setters reached double-digit assists yet again. Lauren Carter put up a team-high 16 assists, while Sienna Noordermeer had 14.
- Carter also finished with a match-high three service aces, her third three-ace performance of the season. She now has 29 aces this year, nearly double her total from her other three collegiate seasons combined (16).
Up Next
The 'Cats will return home to continue Big Ten play next weekend, facing Iowa on Friday at 7 p.m. CT and Maryland on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to 13-9 on the season and 3-7 in Big Ten play, while Indiana improved to 16-4 and 7-3 in conference action.
Bella Bullington had an incredible outing, finishing with a match-high 18 kills on .556 hitting to go along with two blocks and two digs. Ayah Elnady led the way on the defensive end, coming up with nine digs in addition to her nine kills.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Wildcats struck first, getting on the board with a kill from Campbell Paris, but Indiana responded immediately. The Hoosiers' early dominance forced a Northwestern timeout, and though the 'Cats found life on three quick kills from Bullington, Indiana grew the lead to as many as eight points midway through the set. Northwestern pieced together a 6-0 run late to bring the score to 17-18, but in the end, the Hoosiers were able to finish out the set on a scoring run of their own, securing the victory at 25-17. Bullington finished with six kills on a blistering .750 hitting percentage in the opening set.
SET 2 | The second set was closely contested through the first stretch of play, with both teams trading points. A service ace from Sienna Noordermeer tied the score up at 4-4, and back-to-back blocks from Paris and Kayla Kauffman tied the score up at 9-9. Indiana found some momentum of their own to take the lead going into the media timeout, but a kill from Bella Simkus kept the score within two. A service ace from Lauren Carter cut the Hoosier lead to just one, but Indiana was again able to pull away late to take the second set 25-21.
SET 3 | The 'Cats came out hot in the third set, jumping out to a quick 4-1 lead. A series of Indiana kills allowed the Hoosiers to take the lead back, 6-5, but another ace from Carter brought the score within one, at 9-8. Indiana held the lead through the middle stages of the set, but the 'Cats kept it close until a service ace from Hazan drew the two teams even at 17-17. Gigi Navarrete joined the party from there, getting an ace of her own to give the 'Cats a late lead, 19-18. The end of the third set was tight, with a block from Bullington and Gabrielle Gerry pushing the Wildcats to set point at 24-23. The Hoosiers fought back to tie the set at 24-24, however, and a service ace allowed them to take the one-point lead. Northwestern dropped a heart-breaker in the end, losing the third set 26-24.
Game Notes
- Bella Bullington had a team and match-high 18 kills for Northwestern, which tied for the most by a Northwestern attacker in a match this season. It also served as the sixth time this season that the first-year led the Wildcat offense in a match.
- Bullington has now hit better than .500 in a match where she also recorded five or more kills for the fifth time this season. If the season ended today, her .275 hitting percentage this year would be the third best by a Northwestern first-year in program history.
- Both Northwestern setters reached double-digit assists yet again. Lauren Carter put up a team-high 16 assists, while Sienna Noordermeer had 14.
- Carter also finished with a match-high three service aces, her third three-ace performance of the season. She now has 29 aces this year, nearly double her total from her other three collegiate seasons combined (16).
Up Next
The 'Cats will return home to continue Big Ten play next weekend, facing Iowa on Friday at 7 p.m. CT and Maryland on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballVolleyball - 'Cats Outlast Michigan in Five-Set Thriller (10/16/25)
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Wednesday, September 10
Volleyball - Tim Nollan, Sienna Noordemeer, and Ayah Elnady at Big Ten Media Days (7/28/25)
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