Northwestern moves to 2-6 in conference play.
Entering the week 1-4 in conference play, the ‘Cats split two matches at home, beating Iowa on Wednesday evening before falling to UCLA on Sunday afternoon.
Against the Hawkeyes, Kennedy Hill led the way for the Wildcats in Northwestern’s four set win. Hill finished with 12 kills, hitting at a .632 clip to lead the Wildcats. At the service line, Northwestern dominated with 13 aces thanks to a career-high six aces from Rylen Reid and five aces from Sophia Summers. Alexa Rousseau led Northwestern with nine digs and 23 assists as her fifth helper moved her into fifth place in program history in career assists.
Iowa’s Malu Garcia led all players with 13 kills, while Joy Galles’ 14 digs and Jenna Meitzler’s 29 assists paced the Hawkeyes’ effort.
Northwestern got off to a hot start in the first set, holding a 23-16 advantage. The Hawkeyes rallied with a five point run, but a pair of service errors by Iowa handed the Wildcats a first set victory. The Wildcats rolled to start set two, taking a commanding 15-6 lead on the back of winning 11 of 12 consecutive points. Northwestern kept the momentum going, winning the second set 25-13.
The Hawkeyes responded, getting up to a 23-14 lead in the third set. Thanks to two kills and a block assist by Hill, Northwestern responded with a four point run, but ultimately fell short 25-19.
In set four, the Wildcats closed things off. Trailing 20-19, a Summers kill and ace bookended a four point run, helping the ‘Cats win the set 25-22 and their first conference match at home this season.
Against the Bruins on Sunday, Northwestern pushed UCLA to the limit in the match’s opening two sets, before a dominant third set cemented a UCLA sweep.
Hill led things for the Wildcats again, totaling a team high 12 blocks and six blocks. Drew Wright piled up her eighth match of the season with double-digit digs, totaling 14 in NU’s loss. Alexa Rousseau’s 20 assists marked the tenth match of the season she’s reached that mark.
For the Bruins, Cheridyn Leverette and Grayce Olson combined for 27 kills. Former Wildcat Leilani Dodson added 10 kills to bolster the Bruins’ attack. Defensively, Olson tallied 12 digs alongside Peyton Dueck’s 16 digs, while Audrey Pak pulled the strings with 43 assists.
Trailing 14-7 early in set one, the Wildcats stormed back thanks to their potent middles. Rousseau’s ability to quick set for Hill and Summers helped the Wildcats win 12 of the ensuing 16 points to take a 19-18 advantage. With the ‘Cats holding a 26-25 advantage later on, Hill grazed the net on what would’ve been a set-clinching kill, sparking a three point Bruins run to take the first set 28-26.
Set two was tight from the start, featuring four lead changes and 18 ties. With Northwestern up 25-24 looking to tie the match, a Kathryn Randorf attack error helped UCLA win four of the next five points to win set two 28-26.
After challenging the Bruins in the first two sets, UCLA opened the floodgates in set three. Ex-Wildcat Leilani Dodson pounded the ‘Cats for five kills thanks to her patented slide, while Preseason All-Big Ten honoree Anna Dodson added three of her own to propel the Bruins to a 25-10 victory and match sweep.
Northwestern will be back in action Wednesday night against Minnesota, with first serve set for 8 p.m. CST in Minneapolis.