Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Iowa
Wildcats Down Hawkeyes in Five Sets
10/31/2025 9:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern volleyball defeated the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes in five sets (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 18-25, 15-10) on Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The victory improved Northwestern's record to 14-9 overall and 4-7 in Big Ten play, while Iowa fell to 12-11 and 3-8.
The Wildcats were helped by a double-double from Ayah Elnady, who registered 18 kills and 13 digs on the day. In her return to the lineup after injury, Rylen Reid smashed her career high with 27 kills to lead the offense. On the defensive end, Drew Wright chipped in with 13 digs.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The 'Cats fell into an early 4-1 deficit, but a pair of kills by Rylen Reid and a pair of aces from Sienna Noordermeer turned the tide, forcing a timeout from Iowa with Northwestern up 7-4. The Hawkeyes were able to regroup and tie the score at 10-10, but a 4-0 run extended the 'Cats' lead once again. After Iowa tied the score a final time at 20-20, two more kills from Reid secured the first set for Northwestern by a score of 25-22. Northwestern hit .364 with 14 kills in the first frame, also supplementing their offense with four aces.
SET 2 | Northwestern rode the momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 14-5 lead behind four more kills from Reid. The Hawkeyes began making a comeback, drawing as close as 16-13, but a kill by Gabrielle Gerry halted the charge. The 'Cats never relinquished their lead, as a kill by freshman Bella Bullington and an Iowa attack error secured the second set for Northwestern, 25-19. The Wildcat attack was blistering once again, with the team hitting .381 in the set.
SET 3 | The 'Cats started off hot in the third set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and forcing a timeout by the Hawkeyes. An ace by Reid kept Northwestern moving, but Iowa came back to take a 10-9 lead of their own. The set continued being a close affair, with the score reaching a 16-16 tie midway through. After Iowa took the lead, Gigi Navarrete delivered an ace to briefly give the 'Cats an advantage, but a block by Iowa's Alyssa Worden gave the Hawkeyes the third set by a score of 25-23. The set was close throughout, featuring five lead changes and nine ties, and neither team held a lead of more than four points along the way.
SET 4 | Northwestern couldn't seem to find their footing to start the fourth, falling to a 9-0 deficit out of the gate. Iowa then rode the early lead all the way through. An ace by Lauren Carter and a kill by Ayah Elnady brought the 'Cats within six, but they couldn't draw all the way even, and Iowa won the fourth set by a score of 25-18.
SET 5 | The fifth set opened up with a kill by Elnady, then a trio of kills from Reid gave the 'Cats an early 4-1 lead. Northwestern maintained control in the decisive set, building an 11-6 lead backed by Reid and Elnady's dominant runs. Reid put a bow on a career game with the final two kills for Northwestern as the 'Cats took the fifth set 15-10 to win the match. The 'Cats scored 13 of their 15 fifth-set points on kills, including ten from Reid alone.
Game Notes
» Rylen Reid had a match-high three aces in the win to go along with her 27 kills, the most by any Wildcat in a single game since 2023.
» Reid's ten fifth-set kills were also the most by a Wildcat in a fifth set this season.
» Ayah Elnady registered her fourth double-double of the season with 18 kills and 13 digs.
» Northwestern never trailed in the second or fifth sets.
» Northwestern got a team-high 13 digs from Drew Wright, her sixth double-digit performance of the season and her first of Big Ten play.
» Northwestern attackers were helped by a team-high 29 assists from Lauren Carter.
Up Next
The 'Cats return to action on Sunday, when they are set to host the Maryland Terrapins at Welsh-Ryan Arena. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.
