Volleyball: A pair of four set losses drop the ‘Cats to 1-3 in conference play

Northwestern is now on its second three-plus match losing streak of the season.

Despite entering the weekend 1-1 in conference play, Northwestern fell to No. 10 Purdue on Friday night and Illinois Sunday afternoon.

Against the Boilermakers at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the ‘Cats competed well against one of the Big Ten’s premier squads. Alexa Rousseau and Buse Hazan led the Wildcats’ offense with 11 kills apiece, while middle blockers Kennedy Hill and Sophia Summers combined for 17 more. Rousseau and Lauren Carter facilitated the ‘Cats attack with 17 assists each, as Rousseau claimed her seventh double-double or better of the season. Defensively, Drew Wright had 15 digs while Lily Wagner tallied 14 digs. Up front, Summers led the way with seven blocks.

For Purdue, Kenna Wollard, Raven Colvin, Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine led the Boilermakers’ dangerous attack, each finishing with double-digit kills while Taylor Anderson notched 47 assists, her fourth most in a single game this season.

In a tightly contested first set that saw seven lead changes and 16 ties, the Wildcats stormed back from down 22-20, winning five of the set’s final six points to take a surprising set one victory. Northwestern’s defense came alive at the end with Summers’ net-front presence stymieing a Purdue comeback.

In set two, the Boilermakers took control with the set tied 16-16, winning nine of the set’s final 13 points to tie the match. It was a similar story in set three as Purdue pounded the ‘Cats en route to taking a 25-16 third set victory.

In set four, Northwestern’s defense posted eight blocks but fell 29-27 in the match’s final moments. The Wildcats had three set-point opportunities, but with NU up 27-26, a three point rally by the Boilermakers sealed the deal for Purdue.

Against the Fighting Illini in Champaign on Sunday, Northwestern won the first set again, but dropped the next three, falling to Illinois as Northwestern’s offense cooled off from its hot start.

Hazan led the ‘Cats with 11 kills, her ninth match with double digit kills this season and eighth time leading Northwestern in kills. Hill tallied 10 kills on a scalding .643 attack percentage, while fellow middle Summers stuffed Illinois, racking up a career-high nine blocks — her third match in the last four posting at least seven blocks. Drew Wright led the way with 14 digs, while Rousseau’s 23 assists paced Northwestern’s offense. Outside hitter Kathyrn Randorf returned from injury, making her first appearance since Northwestern’s win at NIU, racking up four kills in two sets of play.

For Illinois, Ashlyn Philpot and Raina Terry combined for 27 kills, with ex-Wildcat Averie Hernandez posting 11 kills in her first matchup against her former team. Brooke Mosher tallied 22 assists, while Christina Martinez Mundo led Illinois’ defense with 15 digs.

In a back-and-forth set similar to set one against the Boilermakers, Northwestern won five of the set’s final seven points to clinch a first set victory. NU’s defense smothered the Fighting Illini’s attack with five blocks, including a combo-block from Summers and Hazan to set up set-point.

However, the Fighting Illini offense woke up swinging an efficient .393 and .500 in sets two and three to claim the lead back. In set two, Northwestern trailed by as many as nine as Illinois pranced to a 25-19 second set victory. The ‘Cats dropped set three 25-18, as NU fell behind as many as nine again after surrendering an early 2-1 advantage.

In set four, Illinois finished the job, picking up its first victory in conference play after three consecutive sweeps at the hands of Oregon, Washington and Nebraska. Recovering from a 4-0 start by the Wildcats, Illinois won eight of the next nine points en route to winning set four 25-19.

Northwestern will be back in action Thursday at 7 p.m. CST as the ‘Cats take on Ohio State in Evanston.