'Cats Battle Hard, Fall to No. 22 Michigan State, 3-1

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern volleyball (7-12, 0-8 B1G) battled hard, but ultimately fell 3-1 to the No. 22 Michigan State Spartans (15-3, 5-3 B1G) on Saturday evening inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The ‘Cats dropped the match 25-16, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19.

Both of the ‘Cats’ top attackers reached double-digit kills in the match, with Bella Bullington collecting 13 to lead the team and Mara Stiglic adding 12. Four players recorded five or more digs in a balanced defensive effort.

How It Happened

SET 1 | Michigan State began the match by taking control of the first set, jumping out to an 8-4 lead early with contributions from three different attackers. After a Northwestern timeout, the Spartans continue to expand their lead, growing the advantage to as many as seven points, 15-8. The gap held steady as the ‘Cats battled in the late stages of the first frame, but Michigan State captured four of the last six points to win 25-16.

SET 2 | The tables turned in the second set, as Northwestern came out of the break ready. They built a 6-3 advantage over MSU using kills from Campbell Paris and Stiglic. Though the Spartans stuck close, the ‘Cats maintained their lead through the early stages by taking advantage of Michigan State’s struggles from the service line. After the visitors briefly took the lead, 15-14, Northwestern evened things back up at 15- and then 16-all. A kill from Bullington kick-started the offense in the closing portion of the second set and the ‘Cats rode the momentum through the end of the frame, winning 25-21 to even the match up at a set apiece.

SET 3 | The Wildcats began the third set the same way they closed the second, winning seven of the first ten points to build another early advantage. Bullington and Stiglic were both instrumental in the set, collecting four kills each to power the Northwestern offense. Michigan State did not go quietly, however. After trailing from the very first point, the Spartans battled steadily back to finally tie the third set up at 21-21. From there, it was all Michigan State, as they used a seven-point run to storm back to the set victory, 25-21.

SET 4 | Despite the setback, the ‘Cats opened the fourth set strong as well. The team’s first-years carried the load early, with Clara Schramm, Ellie Stiernagle, Hayley Schaaf and Maya Stillwell all chipping in kills as Northwestern opened up an 8-5 lead. The advantage wouldn’t hold, however, as Michigan State took its first lead of the set near the midway point, 11-10. The ‘Cats hung tough for awhile, but the Spartans eventually pulled away, leading by as many as six points, 21-15, en route to the 25-19 fourth-set win and the 3-1 match victory.

Game Notes

• Stillwell collected seven kills on .400 hitting, marking her fifth match this season with four or more kills on a .400 or better attack percentage.
• Stiernagle finished with 38 assists, pushing her past the 650 mark for the season. She ranks among the top five first-years in Division I in total assists this fall.
• Schaaf collected two kills and a block in her return to the court after five matches away due to injury.
• Ava Pratt collected her first career ace to go along with four digs and an assist against the Spartans.

Up Next

The 'Cats will close out their homestand next Thursday, when they host the Michigan Wolverines at Welsh-Ryan Arena. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on B1G+.