Northwestern
3-1,0-0Big Ten
Baylor
3-1,0-0Big 12
'Cats Take No. 20 Baylor to the Brink, Fall 3-2 in Waco
9/4/2025 8:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
WACO, Texas -- Northwestern (3-1) came a set shy of its first Top-25 takedown since 2023 on Thursday night in Waco, but eventually fell in five sets (18-25, 25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 12-15) to the No. 20 Baylor Bears (3-1) at Ferrell Center.
The Wildcats' attack was paced by Ayah Elnady, who finished with 15 kills on the day. Rylen Reid fell just short of her first career double-double, notching 12 kills and a team-high nine digs. Kayla Kauffman continued the impressive start to her first-year season on defense, leading the 'Cats with five blocks.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Wildcats fell behind early, losing a tough first set 25-18. After battling back and forth early on, Baylor grabbed the advantage for good at 8-7. Elnady got off to a hot start with three kills in the frame.
SET 2 | Northwestern fought back from a first-set loss to take the second set and tie the match at one apiece. Led by Rylen Reid's .833 attack percentage, the 'Cats hit .314 as a team on their way to 16 kills in the set. Carter racked up nine assists and Kathryn Randorf served up a clutch ace late in the stanza as Northwestern evened the match up with a 25-23 victory in set two.
SET 3 | The momentum continued into the third set for the Wildcats, who opened up a 10-5 lead early on. Elnady and Campbell Paris combined for eight of the 'Cats' 16 kills in the set as Northwestern led by as many as 10 points before closing out a 25-19 win.
SET 4 | Northwestern couldn't keep the win streak alive, as the Bears forced a fifth set with a 25-18 fourth-set win. A dominant defensive effort from the front row was not enough as the Wildcats lost the set despite racking up three blocks.
SET 5 | Northwestern battled through the final set, but eventually Baylor prevailed in a 15-12 fifth set. Bella Bullington and Reid both tallied three kills and the 'Cats put up three blocks as a team, but they couldn't close out against the No. 20 Bears.
Game Notes
» With five more blocks in the match, Kayla Kauffman has collected 20 on the season through just four matches. That's the most by a true-first-year middle blocker for Northwestern since Desiree Becker finished 2019 with 74.
» Lauren Carter's 23 assists in the match were a career high, topping her previous record of 21, set last Friday and Sunday in San Diego. Carter and Sienna Noordermeer both reached double-digit assists again, as they have every match so far in 2025.
» Ayah Elnady's team-high 15 kills were her most as a Wildcat.
» Rylen Reid had a match-high three aces and has now tallied 10 over the first four matches this year - halfway to her total from the entirety of last season.
» Northwestern collected 16 kills compared to only one attack error in their 25-19 third-set victory.
Up Next
Northwestern wraps up its stay in Waco tomorrow afternoon, when the 'Cats are set to take on Saint Mary's (CA) in a neutral-site contest at 2:30 p.m. CT.
