EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern volleyball (7-8, 0-4 B1G) fell 3-1 to the Ohio State Buckeyes (9-5, 2-2 B1G) on Saturday night inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, dropping the match 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23.
Despite the loss, Northwestern’s two leading attackers, Mara Štiglic and Bella Bullington, both had huge nights offensively. Štiglic racked up 20 kills on .311 hitting, while Bullington finished with 15 kills. In addition to 37 assists, setter Ellie Stiernagle also led the team in blocks, with three.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Ohio State led nearly the entirety of the first set, with the frame’s only tie coming at 2-2. Naomy Govou was dominant for the Buckeyes from the get-go, collecting six kills and two service aces to account for eight of Ohio State’s 22 earned points. After taking the 3-2 lead, Ohio State ran off six more points to expand its advantage to seven points, 9-2. Northwestern battled back using five first-set kills from Štiglic, but it wasn’t enough, and the Buckeyes grabbed the match’s first lead with a 25-19 victory in set one.
SET 2 | The second set was much closer, featuring five ties and four lead changes. Northwestern got off to a hot start, fighting to a 7-3 lead using kills from four separate players. Ohio State battled back to an 8-8 tie, but hot hitting from Štiglic and Bullington expanded Northwestern’s lead once again from there, leading to a 16-12 Wildcat advantage. While the Buckeyes hung tough, tying the set as late as 19-19, it was Northwestern who ultimately came out on top, winning 25-21 to even the match up at one set apiece. Štiglic was scorching, collecting ten kills on 12 swings in the second set alone.
SET 3 | Northwestern controlled the third set in the beginning stages as well, carrying the second set’s momentum to an early 8-4 lead in third using five early kills from Bullington. While the ‘Cats continued to capitalize on Ohio State errors, the Buckeyes slowly battled back before they finally knotted the set up at 18-all. Ohio State took its first lead of the set at 19-18, then took the lead for good on another Govou ace, setting up a 25-21 victory for the Buckeyes in the third set.
SET 4 | Early errors by the Wildcats put the Buckeyes in front first in the fourth set, but a kill from Maya Stillwell turned the tables, giving Northwestern a 4-3 lead. The ‘Cats would hold onto their advantage for the first half of the fourth set, but Ohio State kept close. After the set evened out at 12-12, the Buckeyes grabbed the lead back on a kill from Hannah Jones. They would never trail again; despite a comeback from the Wildcats which briefly tied the fourth set up, 18-18, Ohio State ultimately outlasted Northwestern in the final frame, winning 25-23 to take the match, 3-1.
Game Notes
- Štiglic reached 20 kills for the second time this season (22, Sept. 17 at Ball State) and the fifth time in her career. She is one of two Wildcats to have recorded a 20+ kill match this season, joined by Campbell Paris (20, Sept. 13 vs. Green Bay).
- Bullington's 15 kills put her in double-digits for the eleventh time this season.
- Twelve different Northwestern players recorded at least one dig in tonight’s match, with eight of the 12 recording four or more.
- Lauren Dignan led the pack with 12 total digs, her fourteenth match in double-digits this season.