September 18, 1998
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern and Missouri each won two matches on the first day of the Evanston Holiday Inn Wildcat Classic. The host Wildcats had impressive three-game wins over Towson and Mississippi, while the Tigers defeated Lehigh University (3-0) and Towson (3-1).
The NU team hit .689 in its three-game sweep over Towson (15-0, 15-0, 15-3). It was the Wildcats' 1998 home-opener and their hitting percentage proved to be the second-highest hitting percentage for a three-game match in NCAA Division I history. The NCAA record of .800 was set by Colorado State vs. Loyola Marymount in 1987.
The victory over Towson marked the first back-to-back 15-0 games in NU school history. The three points allowed in the match is the fewest amount of points ever given up by a Wildcat squad. The previous low of four points was set on September 26, 1981, in a victory over South Carolina (15-3, 15-1) and on October 3, 1987, in a win over Michigan (15-0, 15-2, 15-2).
The school and Big Ten record .689 hitting percentage came on 33 kills, 45 total attempts, and only two hitting errors. Illinois held the previous Big Ten Conference mark by hitting .635 vs. Northeastern Illinois in 1992.
The Wildcats came back in their night match to hand Mississippi a 15-10, 15-0, 15-2 loss. NU was led by sophomore outside hitter Carmen Burbach, who went 16-for-24 with no hitting errors. Senior setter Liz Renius was also on her game tonight with 41 assists.
Missouri got nine kills apiece from senior outside hitter Chandra Hopkins and senior middle blocker Renee Rosinski in a 15-1, 15-2, 15-10 triumph over Lehigh. Sophomore middle Annette Luyten posted 19 kills in the Tigers' 11-15, 15-5, 16-14, 15-3 victory over Towson. In other action today, Mississippi defeated Lehigh 3-1 (15-8, 16-14, 12-15, 15-9).
Northwestern improves to 8-2 on the season and will play Lehigh in its first match tomorrow beginning at noon. The Wildcats meet Missouri (7-3) at 7:30 p.m. in the finale of the two-day tournament.
Friday's Results
Missouri def. Lehigh 15-1, 15-2, 15-10
NU def. Towson 15-0, 15-0, 15-3
Miss. def. Lehigh 15-8, 16-14, 12-15, 15-9
Missouri def. Towson 11-15, 15-5, 16-14, 15-3
NU def. Mississippi 15-10, 15-0, 15-2
Saturday's Schedule
Towson vs. Mississippi (9:30 a.m.)
Northwestern vs. Lehigh (noon)
Missouri vs. Mississippi (2:30 p.m.)
Towson vs. Lehigh (5 p.m.)
Northwestern vs. Missouri (7:30 p.m.)