Volleyball: Northwestern starts .500 in Big Ten Play

Northwestern continues to find success against Maryland, struggles against Wisconsin

After consecutive sweeps over Northern Illinois, Northwestern began Big Ten play with bouts against Maryland and No. 7 Wisconsin.

Opening its conference slate in College Park on Thursday, the Wildcats squeaked out a five-set victory led by a sensational performance from Alexa Rousseau. Recording her third career triple-double, Rousseau’s 25 assists, 15 digs and a career-high 17 kills powered the Wildcats’ attack. Outside hitter Buse Hazan had 15 kills, while Drew Wright’s 16 digs and Kennedy Hill’s nine blocks led the ‘Cats defensively.

After the Terrapins took the first set 25-19, Northwestern rallied in set two. Trailing 20-18, a pair of attack errors from Maryland’s Samantha Schnitta and Sam Csire gave the ‘Cats a 22-20 advantage before two kills from Hazan closed out a set that featured six lead changes and 14 ties in Northwestern’s favor.

Set three was all Terrapins. Maryland won the first point and never looked back, hitting .375 en route to a 25-18 set three victory. After the set was tied 1-1, Northwestern never glimpsed a lead, trailing the rest of the stanza.

In set four, Northwestern kept the match alive winning 27-25 in a set that featured seven ties and two lead changes. Trailing 21-19, a pair of errors from Maryland and two kills from Rousseau knotted things up 22-22. Then, after being tied at 25-25 six points later, back-to-back kills from Hazan sent the ‘Cats to a decisive fifth set.

Entering with an 0-6 record in potential match-clinching sets, Northwestern found its clutch gene using two four-point runs and three points from Hazan and Rousseau each to take the fifth set 15-11. The ‘Cats have now won three straight against the Terrapins and five of the last seven meetings between the two schools.

With only one day off before a meeting with the Badgers in Evanston, Saturday night’s match against Wisconsin didn’t go according to plan. The No. 7 team in the land reared its offensive teeth, hitting .413 en route to a three-set sweep.

The 2023 AVCA Division I National Player of the Year Sarah Franklin dominated with 11 kills, while Devyn Robinson and Anna Smrek chipped in nine and eight, respectively. Wisconsin’s defense stuffed Northwestern, with Carter Booth posting a game-high eight blocks, while Smrek chipped in five of her own. Charlie Fuerbringer paced Wisconsin with 27 assists, and Lola Schumacher led the team with eight digs.

For Northwestern, Rousseau, Hazan and Lily Wagner all had six kills. Lauren Carter led the ‘Cats with 11 assists while Drew Wright’s six digs were a team-high.

After taking a 2-1 advantage in set one, the Badgers led by as many as nine points en route to a 25-16 victory. Set two had a similar story, where Northwestern trailed the entire way, falling 25-16. In set three, the ‘Cats trailed by as many as 10 points as the Badgers took 19 of the final 28 points after the set was tied 6-6 to win 25-15 and clinch their sweep.

Northwestern is back in action Friday against Purdue in Evanston, and then will compete in an in-state rivalry matchup in Champaign slated for Sunday against Illinois.