EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern volleyball (7-11, 0-7 B1G) fell to the nation’s No. 1 team on Thursday evening inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, dropping a 3-0 match to the Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-0, 7-0 B1G) by a final score of 25-17, 25-14, 25-15.
Despite the loss, the ‘Cats racked up eight blocks, which tied for their most in a three-set match this year. It also marked the best blocking performance by any Big Ten team against Nebraska this season, topping Rutgers’ and Indiana’s six-block performances against the Huskers earlier this fall.
On offense, Mara Stiglic paced the team with nine kills. The Wildcats got three blocks a piece from Stiglic, Ellie Stiernagle and Maya Stillwell, while Lauren Dignan led the backrow defense with nine digs.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The ‘Cats opened the match with back-to-back points, beginning with a kill from Campbell Paris. After Nebraska answered back, the two teams played to nine ties across the first half of the set. Paris chipped in two more kills and Stillwell put up a pair of blocks to keep Northwestern in the first set until the final stages. The two teams were tied as late as 17-17, but a seven-point run with Andi Jackson behind the line for Nebraska closed out the first set for the Huskers, 25-17.
SET 2 | Northwestern once again started strong in the second set, scoring four of the first five points. Stiglic and Paris both contributed kills and the ‘Cats capitalized on Nebraska errors to take a 5-2 lead. After Kenna Cogill tied the set up at eight apiece with a kill for the Cornhuskers, however, Nebraska used another run to take a four-point lead. It was all Huskers from there, as Nebraska scored 13 of the next 19 points to take the second set, 25-14.
SET 3 | Nebraska started the third set strong, jumping out to a 7-3 lead and forcing an early timeout for the ‘Cats. After the break, Stiernagle and Kayla Kauffman combined for the first of three Wildcat blocks in the set. Despite the strong defensive showing, however, the ‘Cats could not claw back. Stiglic contributed four kills and Stillwell chipped in three, but Nebraska took the third set 25-15 to close out the sweep.
Game Notes
- The ‘Cats’ eight blocks tied with South Dakota State for the third-most against Nebraska this year. Only Creighton (9) and North Carolina (10) managed more rejections.
- Similarly, Northwestern limited the Huskers to a .278 attack percentage, the second-lowest Nebraska has managed against a Big Ten opponent this season.
- The 5,329 fans in attendance were the most at a Northwestern match this season.