Wildcats Fall in Five to Green BayWildcats Fall in Five to Green Bay

Wildcats Fall in Five to Green Bay

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern volleyball (5-4) dropped a five-set match to the Green Bay Phoenix (5-4) on Sunday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena, falling 3-2 (9-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-23, 15-12) in the final match of the Northwestern Invitational.

Campbell Paris powered the offense, collecting a career-high 20 kills in the loss. Lauren Dignan also had a career day, picking up 24 digs to lead the defense, and Ellie Stiernagle collected her fifth double-double of the season with 47 assists and 16 digs.

How It Happened

SET 1 | Northwestern was dominant in the first set, limiting Green Bay to just nine points. The Phoenix had no answer for Northwestern’s offense, as the ‘Cats picked up 14 kills on .414 hitting. Stiernagle’s strong serving paved the way to victory; with their setter behind the service line, the ‘Cats ran off 12 straight points, expanding their lead from three, at 11-8, to 15, at 23-8. Six different Wildcats contributed kills in the first set, capped off by Mara Štiglic, who brought up set point with her team-leading fifth kill of the frame. Ultimately, a Green Bay attacking error sealed the deal, giving the ‘Cats the first set, 25-9.

SET 2 | Set two was much tighter, requiring extra points to decide its winner. After ten ties and four lead changes, the ‘Cats came out on top of a 29-27 duel to stretch their lead to two sets to none. Green Bay came out firing to open the frame, building a lead of as many as nine points, 19-10. The ‘Cats clawed back late to extend the set, however. A 5-0 run brought the set even at 23 apiece, then an ace from Bella Bullington finally gave the ‘Cats the lead, 26-25. After trading a few more points, Štiglic had the final say, recording her eighth kill of the afternoon to wrap up the 29-27 victory. Paris came alive in the second set, smashing eight kills to lead all scorers. First-year Hayley Schaaf also impressed with five kills.

SET 3 | Green Bay capitalized on Northwestern errors to grab its first set of the day in the third, winning 25-20 to narrow the Wildcats’ lead in the match to one set, 2-1. The set was close early on, tied up as late as 16-16, but the Phoenix pulled away late. Green Bay limited the ‘Cats to just seven kills in the third set, including just one after the media timeout. 

SET 4 | Set four was another close affair, featuring ten more ties and five lead changes. Green Bay led early, 5-2, but Northwestern battled back to a 13-13 tie on a kill by Paris. Errors by the Phoenix gave the ‘Cats a narrow lead from there, but Green Bay pulled even again at 16-16. Though the Wildcats tied it up at 22 and 23 points all, the Phoenix eked out their second victory of the day, tying the match up at two sets apiece.

SET 5 | Green Bay began set five with two straight points, forcing an early Northwestern timeout. Out of the break, kills from Paris, Bullington, Schaaf and Cate Schnell flipped the scoreboard, giving the Wildcats a 5-4 lead. It wouldn’t last, however, as a balanced Green Bay attack pulled the Phoenix even once again, 10-10. The visitors held the lead from there, ultimately winning the fifth set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2.

Game Notes

  • Northwestern saw four players reach double-digit digs: Dignan (24), Stiernagle (16), Drew Wright (16) and Gigi Navarrete (13).
  • Paris was named to the Northwestern Invitational All-Tournament Team following the match. She racked up 34 kills on a .354 attacking percentage across the weekend’s three matches.
  • Schaaf hit .643 (9-for-14) with no errors. That was good for the second-best attack percentage in a five-set match in program history.
  • Green Bay hit -.094 in the first set, the lowest attacking percentage by a Northwestern opponent in a set this season.
  • Schnell collected her first three kills of the season and also assisted on two blocks.
  • The Wildcats put up 11 total blocks as a team, their most in a match this season. Five of the 11 came in the fourth set.

Up Next

The 'Cats return to action on Thursday, when they will play the first of two games in the Ball State Tournament. Northwestern will take on the hosting Cardinals at 5 p.m. CT in Muncie, Ind., before facing IU Indy in a neutral-site match the following evening at the same time.